[♪♪♪] >> 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... ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS CONFIRM THAT A COVID VARIANT IDENTIFIED IN THE U.K. MADE ITS WAY INTO THE STATE IT'S BELIEVED TO BE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN OTHER STRAINS OF COVID-19 AND IT CAN BE DIAGNOSED WITH TESTS IN USE AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE IT CAUSES A MORE SEVERE ILLNESS AT THIS POINT ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

TODAY ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DR. NGOZI EZIKE SOUGHT TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THE EXISTING COVID VACCINE WOULD SUCCESSFULLY TREAT THIS NEW VARIANT WE WILL HAVE MORE IN A BIT.

SOME PARTS OF STATE ARE MOVING TOWARDS ROWAN-SALISBURY LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS ON RESTAURANTS AND BARS BUT NOT COOK COUNTY.

REGIONS AROUND ROCKS FORWARD, NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS WILL MOVE TO TIER 2 MITIGATIONS INCLUDE OPENING MUSEUMS, CASINOS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AT 25% CAPACITY.

INDOOR DESIGNING AND DRINKING REMAINS SUSPENDED.

HOWEVER GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER GAVE RESTAURANT AND BAR OWNERS A GLIMMER OF HOPE BY ANNOUNCING IF REGIONS REACH TIER ONE RESTRICTIONS THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO OPEN AT 25% CAPACITY.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE 6600 NEW CASES OF COVID INCLUDING 123 DEATHS MAKING FOR A TOTAL OF 1,059,000 CASES.

THE POSITIVITY RATE IS 7.7%.

>> AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER IS SENDING NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS IN AVANS OF THE ININAUGURATION.

>> WE WILL BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE GUARD AND I WANT TO THANK ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT ARE ENGAGED IN PROVIDING SECURITY OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF DAYS.

>> JOINING US ARE CHUCK GOUDIE OF ABC7 NEWS.

LAURA WASHINGTON OF "CHICAGO-SUN TIMES" AND AB7 NEWS.

KRISTEN McQUEARY OF THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" AND NADER ISSA OF THE "CHICAGO-SUN TIMES".

WELCOMAL OF YOU.

KRISTEN McQUEARY, NO RESTAURANTS OR BARS DOING INDOOR DINING IN CHICAGO OR COOK COUNTY QUITE YET.

WHEN DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE AT POSITIVITY RATE OF AROUND 10% AND THE GOVERNOR WANTS US TO GET TO 6.5% OVER THREE DAYS.

BUT WE JUST POSTED AN EDITORIAL THAT HE NEEDS TO DO MORE.

WE ARE STILL YOU CAN STILL GO SHOPPING, YOU CAN WALK INTO A HOME DEPOT YOU CAN BOARD A FLIGHT WITH 300 PASSENGERS AND BREATHE ALONGSIDE THEM FOR LONG FLIGHTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO NOT TRUST RESTAURANTS THAT THEY CAN SOCIALLY DISTANCE AND ENFORCE MASKS IS UNREASONABLE AT THIS POINT.

>> LAURA WASHINGTON IF RESTAURANTS DO REOPEN AT 25% CAPACITY, DOES THAT REALLY HELP THEM OUT?

>> WELL, THE HEAD OF THE ILLINOIS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SAYS IT DOESN'T.

AND THERE'S LESS PRESSURE I THINK IN TERMS OF KEEPING PEOPLE EMPLOYED AND STAFFS WHOLE BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE STIMULUS SUPPORT AND UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSIONS THAT CAME THROUGH.

SO YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEES WANT TO WORK AND THEY NEED TO WORK BUT THERE IS A SAFETY NET OUT THERE FOR THEM.

YOU KNOW AND THE OTHER THING IS THE RESTAURANTS IN TERMS OF TRUSTING RESTAURANTS THERE ARE A LOT OF RESTAURANTS THAT ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW AND OPERATING AND MANY OF THEM PRETTY BLATANTLY.

SO I GUESS THAT RAISES THE QUESTION IF THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FOLLOW THE RULES NOW WILL THEY FOLLOW THE RULES GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT SAFE?

>> ONE WAS GIBSONS.

AND THE ILLINOIS HEALTH DIRECTOR DR. NGOZI EZIKE SAID ABOUT THE MORE CONTAGIOUS STRAIN OF COVID-19 NOW REPORTED HERE.

>> WE DO NOT CONTINUE TO WEAR OUR MASKS, WATCH OUR DISTANCE AND AVOID GATHERINGS, THE NEW VARIANT COULD SWEEP ACROSS THE STATE AS IT SWEPT ACROSS THE U.K. AND THAT WOULD LEAD US BACK TO A PLACE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GO.

>> NADER ISSA, AS THIS IS HAPPENING, BIDEN LAST NIGHT PROPOSED A $2 TRILLION BILL WHICH WOULD INCLUDE 350 BILLION DOLLARS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO DROWNING IN RED INK?

>> BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO DID NOT HAVE MUCH MONEY THAT IS EASY TO SAY AND THERE'S BEEN EXPENSES CAN TESTING AND PPE AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS GONE ALONG WITH THE PANDEMIC, IT MEANS A LOST.

I STILL THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEED FOR FUTURE SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I DON'T THINK THAT ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO ARE QUITE SET WITH WHAT BIDEN IS PROPOSING.

BUT THERE'S GOING -- THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO NEED TO STEP UP FURTHER IF THE STATE AND THE CITY ARE GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO YEARS AND THE FALLOUT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

>> AND THE FRAUGHT SITUATION IN WASHINGTON D.C.

RIGHT NOW AND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

TENSIONS ARE STILL HIGH AFTER THE RIOTS AND WITH SOME OF THE PRESIDENT'S BEHAVIOR.

CHUCK GOUDIE, WHAT ARE THE SECURITY CONCERNS THAT CHICAGOANS AND THAT ALL AMERICANS NEED TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR OVER THE NECK WEEK?

>> WELL, AS HAS BEEN PUT OUT THE F.B.I.

BELIEVES THAT ALL 50 STATES ARE VULNERABLE AT LEAST THE STATE CAPITOLS TO SOME TYPE OF ARMED INSURRECTION OR ARMED PROTESTORS SHOWING UP THERE.

THE STATE CAPITOL IN SPRINGFIELD BOARDED UP TODAY.

THE NATIONAL GUARD WILL BE ON PATROL THERE OVER THE WEEKEND.

THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A SIZABLE RALLY THERE THAT THE POLICE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ON SUNDAY.

SO AND ILLINOIS IS CERTAINLY NOT THE WORST OF ALL OF THEM.

I MEAN THE CONTESTED STATES IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HAVE MANY MORE CONCERNS HERE.

AND PROTESTORS AND VIOLENT MILITIA GROUPS TARGETED THEM OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

>> THE STATE CAPITOL IN MICHIGAN IS NOT SAFE SHE BELIEVES?

>> THE STATE CAPITOL IN MICHIGAN HAS NOT BEEN SAFE FOR SOMETIME BECAUSE THEY LET PEOPLE IN WITH GUNS AND TRIED TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM AFTER THERE WAS A KIDNAPPING PLOT AGAINST THE GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN.

MICHIGAN IS A PROBLEM.

THE STATE HOUSE IN WISCONSIN AND MADISON IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BUT IT COULD BE ANYWHERE.

THAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT FIVE DAYS ESPECIALLY ON INAUGURATION WEDNESDAY.

>> AND AT THE SAME TIME, KRISTEN McQUEARY, NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO DO OVER THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.

MOST OF HIS STAFFERS HAVE LEFT.

THERE WAS A REPORT TODAY THAT THE C.E.O.

OF MY PILLOW WALKED IN WITH A SHEET ABOUT HOW TO DECLARE MARTIAL LAW OR SOME APPEARING TO TALK ABOUT TRYING TO HOLD ON TO POWER.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IN THE NEXT FIVE-SEVEN DAYS?

>> I MEAN IT'S SO UNPREDICTABLE IT'S SO HARD TO SAY AND THERE WAS A PUSH FOLLOWING JANUARY 6TH THE SIEGE ON THE CAPITOL TO GET TRUMP OUT OF OFFICE RIGHT AWAY.

WE CALLED ON THE VICE-PRESIDENT TO APPLY THE 25TH AMENDMENT WE SUPPORT IMPEACHMENT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE A TRIAL.

BUT YOU CAN'T COUNT ANYTHING OUT.

THAT THEY PUT THE ENTIRE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND AMERICANS OVERSEAS AT RISK.

AND DESTABILIZE THE COUNTRY.

I WISH I HAD A GOOD ANSWER.

I READ THAT HE IS FRUSTRATED.

THAT HE LOST HIS PLATFORM WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH HIS BASE.

>> AND LAURA WASHINGTON A LOT OF ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SAY THEIR LIVES ARE BEING PUT AT RISK.

THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT MORE FAR RIGHT COLLEAGUES WHO ARE GOING PAST METAL DETECTORS IN THE HOUSE, APPEARING TO PACK HEAT IN THEIR BAGS, THEIR PURSES IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME KIND OF COORDINATION WITH SOME OF THE MEMBERS AND SOME OF THE FAR RIGHT GROUPS AS CONGRESS PEOPLE ARE ALLEGING?

>> WELL, THERE'S BEEN REPORTS THAT REFLECT THAT BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S HARD EVIDENCE.

THEIR FEARS ARE REFLECTED IN THAT IMPEACHMENT VOTE THAT HAPPENED.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN ADDITION TO FEELING PERSONALLY THREATENED NOT ONLY NOW BUT DURING THE SIEGE, ARE TAKING WHAT DONALD TRUMP DID VERY, VERY PERSONALLY AND PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN MAKE SURE THEY SEND A MESSAGE THIS WILL NOT STAND.

AND I THINK THEY ARE HOPING THAT THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THE EFFORTS BEING MADE WILL REENFORCE THAT MESSAGE WITH HIS SUPPORTERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M LOOKING FOR THE PRESIDENT TO DO BEFORE HE LEAVES IS TO ISSUE PARDONS.

ONE THING YOU CAN COUNT ON DONALD TRUMP DOING IS TAKING CARE OF HIS OWN INTERESTS.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO LOOKING INTO DOING PARDONS PARTICULARLY FOR CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS AND ALLIES LIKE RUDY GIULIANI, AND PERHAPS EVEN SOME OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS AND ASK ASKED SOME OF THE LAWYERS IN HIS ORBIT TO LOOK AT THE IDEA OF HIM PARDONING HIMSELF.

THERE ARE QUESTIONS AND LEGAL EXPERTS DO NOT AGREE WHETHER THAT IS LEGAL.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE INTERESTING PARDONS COMING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> CHUCK GOUDIE YOU HAVE COVERED A LOT OF FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS, HAVE YOU EVER COVERED SOMETHING WITH THIS SCOPE WHERE YOU HAVE THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL IN WASHINGTON OR SECOND ASSISTANT WHATEVER THE TITLE IS WE ARE NOT HEARING FROM THE HEAD OF THE F.B.I.

AND THE ACTING HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

HAVE YOU SEEN AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS KIND OF SCOPE?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S SEEN A SITUATION LIKE THIS PERIOD.

AND THE FACT IS THERE WERE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE CAPITOL ATTACK THAT WOULD INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM BREWING AND THIS WAS NOT AN INTELLIGENCE FAILURE IT WAS A FAILURE TO ACT ON INTELLIGENCE.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION THE INVESTIGATION HAS TO GO.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT CLICHE SO SAY WHO KNEW WHAT AND WHEN?

BUT THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT THE AUTHORITIES HAVE TO FIGURE OUT NOW.

TO THE EXTENT THAT WILL WILL BE CONCLUSIONS REACHED.

WHO IS RUNNING THE INVESTIGATION?

THERE WILL BE MANY OVER THE NEXT MONTHS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

>> AND IT HAS NOT SNARED SOME CHICAGO AREA FOLKS.

CHUCK IS THERE ANYTHING THAT STANDS OUT ABOUT THE FOLKS ARRESTED FROM THIS AREA?

>> WELL, THE FEW THINGS THAT STAND OUT ARE THAT THEY WOULD SEEM TO FALL INTO THE GROUP THAT HAVE BEEN SWEPT UP IN FAIRLY MINOR CHARGES INITIALLY.

THE F.B.I.

HAS SAID THAT THEIR ROUTINE IN CASES LIKE THIS THEY WANT TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE SYSTEM SO THEY ARREST THEM CHARGE THEM WITH MISDEMEANORS IN THE CASE OF THE NORTHWEST SIDE JEFFERSON PARKMAN WHO WAS ARRESTED.

AND THEN THEY GO TO A GRAND JURY AND CONCEIVABLY UP THE CHARGES TO FELONIES AND MUCH MORE SERIOUS ENCOUNTERS WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

>> NADER ISSA, AS WE TALK, THE ILLINOIS IS SENDING NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO WASHINGTON THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 25,000 TOTAL.

FOLKS DESCRIBE IT AS A GREEN ZONE IN A WAR-TORN COUNTRY.

WHAT IS YOUR REFLECTION JUST ON THE STATE OF AFFAIRS THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, YEAH, YOU LOOK AT PHOTOS OF NATIONAL GUARDSMEN IN DC THEY ARE QUARTERING IN THE CAPITOL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.

THE CITY LOOKS LEAK A WAR ZONE ALL THE STREETS ARE BLOCKED OFF.

CAPITOL GROUNDS WILL BE OFF LIMITS.

IT'S JUST SURREAL TO SEE THAT MANY MEMBERS OF MILITARY IN DC FOR WHAT SHOULD BE AND HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S JARRING TO SEE.

I READ A STORY A COUPLE DAYS AGO THAT THE NUMBER OF TROOPS EXPECTED TO BE IN DC OVER THE NEXT WEEK IS MORE THAN THE U.S. HAS IN SYRIA, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN AND SOMALIA COMBINED.

THAT PUTS IT INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR YOU.

>> IT'S ACTUALLY 10 TIMES MORE TROOPS THAN WE HAVE IN IRAQ.

>> THAT IS A SHOCKING NUMBER TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND.

>> KRISTEN McQUEARY, BACK HOME, THE FOP HAD JOHN CATANZARA MADE CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS SAYING HE UNDERSTOOD WHY THE RIOTERS DID WHAT THEY DID AND THEN WALKED THEM BACK.

DO YOU THINK HIS TENURE IS IN JEOPARDY NOW AS THE HEAD OF THE POLICE UNION?

>> IT'S UP TO THE MEMBERS BUT THEY KNEW WHEN THEY ELECTED HIM THEY WERE GETTING A RADICAL VOICE FOR THEIR ISSUES.

I THINK IT PUT POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CONSERVATIVES INTO A TIGHT BOX THAT THEY TRY TO JUSTIFY IN ANYWAY THIS ATTACK THAT ENDED IN THE DEATH OF A CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER.

I MEAN, THERE IS NO JUSTIFYING IT.

HE DID TRY TO WALK HIS COMMENTS BACK BUT THE MEMBERS NEED TO RISE UP IF THEY FIND HIM TO BE AN INAPPROPRIATE PERSON REPRESENTING THEM.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT.

AFTER BEING IMPEACHED THE PRESIDENT SPOKE BY THE WHITE HOUSE TWITTER ACCOUNT AFTER HE WAS SUSPENDED PERMANENTLY FROM THAT PLATFORM AND IN THE SPEECH HE DID NOT MENTION THE IMPEACHMENT.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> MOB VIOLENCE GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING I BELIEVE IN.

AND I BELIEVE R EVERYTHING OUR MOVEMENT STANDS FOR.

NO TRUE SUPPORTER OF MINE COULD EVER ENDORSE POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

>> LAURA WASHINGTON HE DOESN'T MENTION THAT JOE BIDEN IS THE LEGITIMATE WINNER OF THE ELECTION AND WILL TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE ON WEDNESDAY AND THIS NOTION OF A RIGGED ELECTION WAS CERTAINLY NOT TRUE.

IS THIS ENOUGH TO CALM TENSIONS DOWN?

>> THIS IS NOTHING NEW.

HE HAS ALREADY SAID THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO ATTEND THE INAUGURATION HE WILL LEAVE WASHINGTON BEFORE THE INAUGURATION HE HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT AND THIS IS THE PARTNERSHIP HE ON THE ONE HAND WILL SAY HE CONDEMNS VIOLENCE BUT HE WILL NOT CONDEMN THE ACTORS THAT COMMITTED THAT VIOLENCE.

IT IS A PATTERN.

I THINK THE IMPEACHMENT SHOWED THE PEOPLE ARE NOT BUYING THAT HIS ARGUMENTS ANY LONGER.

WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL THE ANGER AND THE CONCERN ABOUT WHAT HE HAS DONE AND WHETHER OR NOT THE ACTS WERE ILLEGAL OR ACTS OF INSURRECTION THAT WILL BE DECIDED IF CONGRESS THE SENATE DECIDES TO MOVE AHEAD WITH A CONVICTION.

BUT IF THAT HAPPENS THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER HE IS OUT OF OFFICE.

>> CHUCK, WHAT LEGAL EXPOSURE DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT FACES FOR THIS OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS?

>> WELL, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEGAL EXPOSURE AND SOME FINISHNALITY TO THE EXPOSURE THAT IS GOING TO BE THE KEY.

THERE WILL BE SOME ACTION ATTEMPTED ALONG THE WAY WHETHER THERE ARE THESE CIVIL LAWSUITS AND A NUMBER OF STATES OR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS THAT EXIST IN NEW YORK STATE ALONE THAT REALLY OPEN HIM UP TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

IT'S NOT JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CONGRESS RIGHT NOW FOR HIM AND BEING UNEMPLOYED.

HE HAS SOME HEFTY LEGAL BILLS HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY.

>> AS WE WENT ON THE AIR NEWS BROKE THAT PROSECUTORS IN GEORGIA ARE CONSIDERING A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE PRESIDENT'S ALLEGED ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION.

LET'S MOVE ON TO A HISTORIC MOMENT THAT HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY THE PRESIDENT WAS IMPEACHED THE LONGEST SERVING SPEAKER IN THE NATION MICHAEL MADIGAN HANDED THE GAVEL.

HERE IS WHAT THE NEW SPEAKER, CHRIS WELCH HAD TO SAY.

>> I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THIS LEADERSHIP.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE AND THINGS THAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.

>> KRISTEN McQUEARY WHAT ARE THE MACHINATIONS THAT BROUGHT CHRIS WELCH TO THIS POINT TO TAKEOVER FOR THE LONGEST SERVING SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY?

>> IT STARTED WITH THE COLLECTION OF THOSE 19 HOUSE DEMOCRATS WHO BEGAN TO SPEAK OUT AND SAY THEY WOULDN'T SUPPORT HIM FOR SPEAKER.

IF NOT FOR THAT GROUP, YOU SHOULD ALL REMEMBER THEM AT ELECTION TIME THEY STUCK THEIR NECKS OUT WE MIGHT HAVE A SPEAKER MADIGAN ONCE HE COULD NOT GET TO THE 60 VOTES THAT STARTED WITH THAT GROUP THERE WERE CAUCUS MEETINGS BACK AND FORTH TO SEE WHO COULD BUILD THE MOST SUPPORT AND IT ENDED UP BEING CHRIS WELCH FOR PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW SPRINGFIELD POLITICS I DO NOT THINK WAS A SURPRISE HE IS PART OF MADIGAN'S LEADERSHIP TEAM AND SERVES AS A PARLIAMENTARIAN IN THE HOUSE AT TIMES WHEN THE SPEAKER IS NOT IN THAT ROLE ONE OF MADIGAN'S LIEUTENANTS.

HE IS THE FIRST BLACK HOUSE SPEAKER.

SO HE HAD THE SUPPORT OF TWO OF THE MINORITY CAUCUSES.

>> LET'S NOT FORGET HE CHAIRED THE COMMITTEE INTO INVESTIGATING ComEd AND MADIGAN'S ROLE WHICH YIELDED NOTHING.

LAURA WASHINGTON KNOWING THAT IS THIS REALLY A SEA CHANGE OR IS MADIGAN STILL GOING TO HAVE SOME SWAY BEHIND THE SCENES HERE?

>> WELL, I WOULD NOT CALL IT A SEA CHANGE MAYBE IT IS A LAKE CHANGE THERE WILL BE CHANGES I BELIEVE CHRIS WELCH WHEN HE SAYS HE IS GOING TO BE HIS OWN MAN.

BUT HE IS A CLOSE ALLY OF MICHAEL MADIGAN HE STUCK UP FOR MICHAEL MADIGAN DURING THAT INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE THAT HE RAN ON ComEd.

AND CHRIS WELCH HIMSELF SAID HE IS GOING TO BE CONSULTING WITH MADIGAN, MADIGAN BRINGS 40 YEARS OF DEEP EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING A LEGISLATURE.

BUT HE ALSO DOES HAVE THE SUPPORT OF AS KRISTEN POINTS OUT A SUPPORT OF A BROAD COALITION OF MEMBERS GOT FAR MORE VOTES HE NEEDED.

WAY PAST 60, 69 VOTES.

AND IT STARTED BEYOND THE 19, IT STARTED WITH THE BLACK CAUCUS BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE BLACK CAUCUS TOGETHER I BELIEVE THERE WAS CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE BLACK CAUCUS AND MICHAEL MADIGAN ABOUT MADIGAN SAYING IF NOT ME THEN ONE OF YOU.

AND BECAUSE WELCH HAS GOOD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE AISLE WITH REPUBLICANS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE LATINO CAUCUS HE WAS ABLE TO BUILD THE NUMBERS HE NEEDED.

>> CHUCK, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO PICTURE MADIGAN DOING ANYTHING THAT IS NOT 3D CHESS MOVE.

DO YOU THINK MADIGAN TRULY IS DONE AS THE POWER BROKER IN ILLINOIS?

>> WELL, HE MAY NOT ONLY BE DONE THERE, BUT HE MAY ALSO BE DONE WITH POLITICS FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN AT THE TOP OF THE TRASH HEAP IN SPRINGFIELD FOR SO LONG TO NOW BE AT THE BOTTOM OF IT OR SOMEPLACE IN THE MIDDLE I'M NOT SURE THAT IS MICHAEL MADIGAN'S STYLE.

WE SHOULDN'T STOP WATCHING HIM IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HE DOES POLITICALLY.

AND HE IS FAR FROM OUT OF THE LEGAL WOODS.

THE ComEd INVESTIGATION CLEARLY IS WORKING TOWARD HIM AND THE FACT THAT HE HAS NOT COOPERATED WITH THE AUTHORITIES.

HE HAS NOT CUT A DEAL TO STEP DOWN WITH THEM.

WOULD CERTAINLY LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE THAT HE STILL FACES A LOT OF EXPOSURE.

>> CERTAINLY HAS BEEN IMPLICATED.

NADER ISSA WHILE THAT WAS HAPPENED SPRINGFIELD DID GET A LOT OF STUFF DONE.

WHAT WAS SOME OF THAT STUFF?

>> ONE OF THE MAJOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT THEY PASS SECOND THIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILL THAT HAS A LOT OF BIG PIECES IN IT.

ONE OF THEM ENDS CASH BAIL IN ILLINOIS.

IF GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNS IT WILL WILL NO LONGER BE CASH BAIL.

DEFENDANTS WILL BE RELEASED OR DEEMED A SAFETY THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY THEY WILL BE HELD WITH NO BAIL.

THAT'S ONE PIECE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILL.

THERE ARE IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICE UNIONS.

THERE WAS A LOT PASSED.

THERE WERE A COUPLE PIECES THAT RELATED TO EDUCATION.

SO I THINK MY TAKEAWAY FROM ALL OF THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION PASSED THIS WEEK NOT EVERY SINGLE ONE BUT A LOT OF THEM PUTS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IN A TOUGH SPOT.

THERE WAS A FIREFIGHTERS' PENSION BILL PASSED THAT IS GOING TO MAKE HER JOB TOUGH FINANCIALLY.

THERE WAS A BILL THAT STRENGTHENS THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION BARGAINING RIGHTS ALL OF THOSE WILL MAKE INTERESTING IN CHICAGO.

>> THAT C.T.U.

WAS A BILL THEY WANTED AND SOMETHING THE MAYOR WAS NOT KEEN ON.

AND SWITCH OVER TO SCHOOLS NEWS.

THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OVER THE RETURN TO IN-CLASS LEARNING.

HERE IS WHAT JANICE JACKSON HAD TO SAY.

>> THERE ARE THINGS THAT WORKED WELL AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK ON AND TWEAK BUT I HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE IN OUR PLAN AFTER IMPLEMENTING IT THIS WEEK.

>> NADER, WEEK ONE OF RETURN TO IN-PERSON FOR CLUSTER SPECIAL EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNER'S.

HOW DID IT GO?

DO WE KNOW WHETHER THERE ARE ANY COVID OUTBREAKS?

DIFFERENT PEOPLE PUT DIFFERENT NUMBERS OUT THERE.

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

>> AS FAR AS OUTBREAKS THERE'S ONE SCHOOL THAT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN OUTBREAK BREWING.

C.P.S.

IS CALLING IT A CLUSTER OF CASES NOW.

THERE ARE TWO CONFIRMED CASES AMONGST STAFF MEMBERS EIGHT STAFF MEMBERS QUARANTINING INCLUDING THE SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.

AND I HEARD THERE'S AS LITTLE AS ONE TEACHER STILL IN THE BUILDING.

THERE ARE A FEW OTHER CASES AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WHICH IS TO BE EXPECTED.

EVEN IF TRANSMISSION IS NOT HAPPENING INSIDE OF SCHOOLS, YOU EXPECT THE SAME RATE OF CASES IN THE COMMUNITY TO FIND ITS WAY INTO PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING INSIDE THE SCHOOLS.

BUT IT WAS AN INTERESTING FIRST WEEK.

THE C.T.U.

IS MAKING ITS VOICE HEARD AND PLANNING A LOT OF ACTIONS.

THERE WERE A LOT OF TEACHERS REQUIRED TO GO TO WORK IN-PERSON AND ARE NOT SHOWING UP.

AND A POINT OF CONTENTION HAS BEEN THAT THOSE TEACHERS ARE BEING LOCKED OUT OF REMOTE TEACHING THEY ARE NOT BEING PAID ANYMORE AND THE C.T.U.

THINKS THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PAID AND ALLOWED TO WORK REMOTELY.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING MOVING FORWARD.

THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS ON IT.

SOME PARENTS AND FAMILIES ARE HAPPY TO BE BACK.

WE HEARD JANICE JACKSON SHE IS NOT WAVERING AT ALL.

AND THERE'S ABOUT 77,000 MORE STUDENTS EXPECTED BACK IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

>> THE TEACHERS' UNION IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE WAY C.P.S.

HAS HANDLED IT.

KRISTEN DO THEY HAVE A POINT THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THIS?

OR ARE THEY TRYING TO CAUSE MORE TROUBLE?

>> WELL, SO I WRITE OPINION.

>> YOU ARE AN OPINION COLUMNIST.

>> THERE'S NOTHING THAT C.P.S.

COULD DO THAT WOULD PLEASE THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

C.P.S.

PUT FILTERS IN CLASS ROOMS THEY HAVE TRIED TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT CLASSROOMS ARE SAFE.

YOU HAVE A MODEL OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHO HAVE BEEN OPEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

YES, SOME HAVE HAD TO TEMPORARILY HOLD GROUPS OF KIDS OUT WHEN THEY HAVE A CASE.

BUT YOU HAVE A MODEL IN FRONT OF YOU THAT IS WORKING.

SO THE C.T.U.

WILL CONTINUE TO OBSTRUCT AS LONG AS THEY CAN.

AND AT THE EXPENSE OF DATA HAS SHOWN MINORITY AND BLACK STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT DOING WELL IN THIS REMOTE SITUATION.

>> LAURA, HOW DOES THIS STAREDOWN AND WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT A STAREDOWN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION IN CHICAGO, THE GAME OF CHICKEN BETWEEN C.T.U.

AND C.P.S.

RESOLVE ITSELF?

>> WELL, THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

I THINK THE C.T.U.

HAS PROVEN ITS METAL IN THE PAST.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE CONFRONTED C.P.S.

AND THEY DON'T HESITATE TO STRIKE.

I THINK THIS POINT ABOUT THE RACIAL ASPECT OF THIS IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.

MANY OF THE PARENTS WHO ARE MORE EAGER TO GET THEIR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL AND I DON'T HAVE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE BUT IT TENDS TO BE THE WHITE PARENTS.

AND THE PARENTS WHO ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE DISEASE TEND TO BE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THAT IS NOT AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE COMMUNITIES ARE BEING MUCH MORE IMPACTED BY THE VIRUS.

AND THE TEACHERS' UNION CAN MAKE THAT CASE.

THE C.P.S.

MAKES THE CASE ON THE OTHER SIDE BY KEEPING OUT KIDS OF SCHOOL YOU ARE HURTING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, FIRST.

I'M UNSURE HOW IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.

>> IT IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME WE CAN'T RESOLVE IT HERE.

THANKS TO KRISTEN McQUEARY, CHUCK GOUDIE, LAURA WASHINGTON AND NADER ISSA THANK YOU.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT WE'RE BACK AT 7:00 P.M. ALL NEXT WEEK.

A WTTW NEWS SPECIAL THE HISTORY OF POVERTY IN THE CHICAGO AREA WHERE IT STANDS TODAY AND WHERE TO GO FROM HERE PART OF OUR LATEST FIRSTHAND INITIATIVE FOCUSING ON POVERTY.

FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

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