[♪♪♪] >> 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 BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> CHICAGO'S TOP COP DAVID BROWN PUSHES BACK ON A "SUN-TIMES" REPORT QUOTING SENIOR POLICE OFFICIALS WHO SAY THEY HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN HIS LEADERSHIP.

BROWN HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THERE MIGHT BE DISGRUNTLED WORKERS WHO DON'T LIKE HIS STYLE OF LEADERSHIP BUT THEY ARE LIKELY UPSET BECAUSE OF HIS EFFORTS TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AT C.P.D.

>> WE'RE MAKING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND NOT JUST CONSENT DECREE CHANGES.

WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THERE ARE LIKELY PEOPLE WHO LIKED IT THE WAY THINGS WERE.

AND WHO WILL PUSHBACK AND USE MEDIA BECOME SOURCES TO CREATE A LOT OF DYSFUNCTION.

>> A CHICAGO AREA FIRM THAT RUNS A CHANGE OF COVID TESTING SITES WILL BE SHUTDOWN FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE FROM ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL.

THEY HAVE OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO ROLLING MEADOWS BAY CENTERS FOR COVID CONTROL INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT CUSTOMERS NEVER RECEIVED TEST RESULTS OR HAD THEM DELAYED AND OTHERS GOT RESULTS THOUGH THEY WERE NEVER ADMINISTERED A TEST.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CENTER FOR COVID CONTROL AND WE WILL HAVE MORE WITH THE BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO REPORTER.

>> AND THE STATE'S DAILY COVID CASE LOAD SHOT UP TODAY.

THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTS 40,000 NEW CASES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

WITH 137 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

AND THE COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER REPORTS THAT THE COUNTY'S TOTAL DEATH TOLL HAS SURPASSED 14,000 SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC WITH MORE THAN 1,000 DEATHS SINCE JANUARY 5 ALONE.

>> AND NOW TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL.

JOINING US ARE A.D. QUIG OF CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS.

KELLY BAUER OF BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO.

LORRAINE FORTE OF THE "SUN-TIMES".

AND HANNAH MEISEL OF NPR ILLINOIS.

LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT.

CHICAGO'S TOP PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL BELIEVES THE CITY HAS PASSED THE FORMAL PEAK OF OMICRON CASES.

>> HOWEVER, WE ARE A LONG WAY FROM BEING OUT OF THE WOODS AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT OVER THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD ON GETTING FOLKS VACCINATED AND GETTING FOLKS TESTED AND CONTINUING TO WEAR MASKS BECAUSE THERE IS A LONG WAY TO COME DOWN.

HOWEVER I'M PLEASED TO HAVE SEEN THIS TURN AROUND.

>> A.D. QUIG A LONG WAY FROM OUT OF THE WOODS BUT IS IT A TURNAROUND WHEN YOU SEE THE CASE HAUL TODAY?

>> IT'S TOUGH TO IMAGINE THINKING OF THE DAYS WHEN WE HAD A COUPLE HUNDRED CASES WE ARE 2400 CASES DOWN FROM A PEAK OF 6,000 AT THE START OF THE MONTH.

WE'VE MADE QUITE A BIT OF PROGRESS.

NEW HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN TO 183 TODAY THAT IS 17% LOWER THAN LAST WEEK.

DEATHS ARE EDGING DOWNWARD THE MOST TRAGIC PART OF ANY CELEBRATION OF A PEAK HITTING.

HOSPITALS ARE OVERWHELMED.

DR. NGOZI EZIKE TOLD MY COLLEAGUE TODAY THAT IF YOU HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO WORK-FROM-HOME YOU SHOULD TO KEEP THIS DOWNWARD SLOPE CONTINUING.

AND AS Dr. ALLISON ARWADY POINTED OUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO UNTIL WE ARE IN THE LOW INCIDENT STATE IN CHICAGO UNDER 200 A DAY TEST POSITIVITY UNDER 5% WE ARE 10% NOW AND OCCUPIED HOSPITAL BEDS HAS TO BE LESS THAN 250 TOTAL AND WE HAVE 1200 PEOPLE IN HOSPITAL BEDS IN CHICAGO.

>> AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SPOKE TO THE STABILIZATION HE SEES OF HOSPITAL CAPACITY RATES OR OCCUPANCY RATES.

DO HOSPITAL OFFICIALS BELIEVE THEY ARE OUT OF THE WOODS YET?

>> I MEAN, OUT OF THE WOODS IS SUCH A SUBJECTIVE TERM.

HOSPITALS I DON'T THINK ANYONE WHO DOESN'T WORK IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF COVID PATIENTS EVERYDAY UNDERSTOOD WHAT DIRE STRAITS HOSPITALS WERE IN.

SO OUT OF THE WOODS IS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT FAR OFF.

HOSPITALS ARE STILL IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE STATE DATA BEFORE WE HOPPED ON TO FILM, BUT THE NUMBER OF ICU BEDS AVAILABLE ACROSS THE STATE HAS BEEN DECREASING AND DECREASING AND DECREASING FOR MANY MONTHS NOW.

AND THAT IS A PROBLEM OF STAFFING.

THAT IS FOLKS ARE HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE GETTING SICK.

AND THEY CAN'T COME TO WORK.

WE'VE TALKED ON AND ON ABOUT HEALTHCARE BURN-OUT.

WE MIGHT BE PAST PEAK BUT IT'S DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND THE METRO EAST ARE NOT NECESSARILY PAST THE PEAK.

>> AND THOSE DEATH RATES USUALLY LAG THE ACTUAL CASE RATES.

KELLY BAUER, YOU'VE DONE INCREDIBLY DETAILED REPORTING ON SOME OF THESE POP-UP SITES THAT CAUSED PROBLEMS.

EXPLAIN TO US NOW WHAT THE ILLINOIS AND MINNESOTA ATTORNEYS GENERAL ARE LOOKING INTO AS IT RELATES TO THE CENTER FOR COVID CONTROL?

>> THE CENTER FOR COVID CONTROL IS A ROLLING MEADOWS BASED COMPANY THAT HAS A TON OF POP-UPS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY MORE THAN 300 INCLUDING MORE THAN 140 IN ILLINOIS.

THIS WEEK, THE MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE SUING THE COMPANY AND ITS LAB, DOCTORS CLINICAL LAB SAYING THEY DECEIVED CUSTOMERS IN MINNESOTA.

THAT THEY DIDN'T DELIVER TEST RESULTS ON TIME.

THAT THEY FALSIFIED TEST RESULTS AND ISSUES.

THEY SAID WORKERS TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT TESTS WERE BEING KEPT IN GARBAGE BAGS AND THERE WAS CHAOS AT THE ROLLING MEADOWS OFFICE AND WE'VE SEEN THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE CONFIRMED IT'S INVESTIGATING THE COMPANY AND PRACTICES.

AND LAST NIGHT ANNOUNCED THE CENTER FOR COVID CONTROL'S POP-UP SITE ALSO REMAIN CLOSED AS THAT INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

>> AND I WANT TO GET BACK TO YOUR REPORTING.

LORRAINE FORTE I WANT TO BRING YOU IN.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ALLEGATIONS DOES IT SUGGEST TO YOU FRAUD OR SIMPLY MISMANAGEMENT?

>> I THINK IT SUGGESTS TO ME FRAUD BECAUSE I READ THE STORIES ABOUT THE UNREFRIGERATED TESTS AND THE CHAOS AND THEN I ALSO READ THAT THEY ARE SPENDING MONEY BUYING NEW CARS.

YOU KNOW.

SO IT OF COURSE, MISMANAGEMENT BUT TO ME IT ALSO SMACKS OF FRAUD AND YOU'RE IN IT FOR THE MONEY AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE REALLY NEEDING TESTS THEY NEED QUICK TEST RESULTS THEY MIGHT NEED IT FOR JOB PURPOSES THEY MIGHT NEED IT FOR ANY OTHER REASON.

AND THEY ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

>> AND KELLY SPEAKING OF MONEY, YOU HAD A STORY SAYING THAT CENTER FOR COVID CONTROL RECEIVED $124 MILLION IN FEDERAL COVID MONEY.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT INVESTIGATORS ARE INTERESTED IN?

>> YES.

IT IS $124 MILLION AND COUNTING STILL GOING UP.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT INVESTIGATORS HAVE SAID THAT THEY ARE TAKING A LOOK AT.

WE HEARD FROM CUSTOMERS THAT NUMEROUS TIMES THEY WOULD GO TO THE SITES AND YOU ARE ASKED TO INPUT YOUR INSURANCE INFORMATION SO YOUR INSURANCE CAN BE BILLED THE COST OF YOUR TEST.

BUT THEY HAD WORKERS TELL THEM DON'T PUT IN YOUR INSURANCE INFORMATION.

SOMETIMES THEY WOULD GIVE A REASON IT WILL MAKE THE TEST GO QUICKER AND SOMETIMES NOT.

AND WE'VE SPOKE TO EXPERTS WHO RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WAY THESE PLACES WERE OPERATING.

FORMER EMPLOYEES, PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY, AND EVEN A VIDEO FROM ONE ST FOUNDERS SHOWED THAT THE COMPANY WAS PAYING PER TEST SENT ITS WAY.

THAT BRINGS UP QUESTIONS ABOUT ANTIKICKBACK LAWS.

>> A LOT OF RED FLAGS.

KELLY TELL US ABOUT WHO RUNS THIS COMPANY?

WHAT WERE THEY DOING PRIOR TO COVID?

>> THIS IS THE THING THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN, RIGHT?

BEFORE THIS COUPLE FROM ST. CHARLES WAS RUNNING THIS COMPANY THEY HAD AN YOU COULD GO AND THROW AXES AT TARGETS.

THE HUSBAND WHO DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS THE FOUNDING FATHER OF THE CENTER FOR COVID CONTROL RAN A BUSINESS MAKING WEDDING VIDEOS.

NOT A STRONG HEALTHCARE BACKGROUND.

AND AS TIME HAS GONE ON THE COMPANY EXPANDED AND WENT FROM A HANDFUL OF SITES MORE THAN 300 BY THE TIME THEY SHUTDOWN LAST WEEK.

AND DURING THAT TIME, THEY MADE VERY SIGNIFICANT PURCHASES.

THEY BOUGHT A 1.3 MILLION HOME IN ST. CHARLES.

CHANDELIERS AND A THREE-CAR GARAGE AND WE FOUND ON ONE OF THE CO-OWNERS TIKTOK ACCOUNTS HE WAS BRAGGING ABOUT BUYING $400,000 LAMBORGHINIS.

AND HE SAYS HE BOUGHT A 3.7 MILLION FERRARI.

AND WHEN HE WOULD GO ON THE COMMENTS HE SAID HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE PURCHASES WITH COVID MONEY.

>> THESE ARE ALL THINGS I'M SURE THAT INVESTIGATORS ARE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT.

A.D. QUIG ALSO WE SAW PRESIDENT BIDEN LAUNCH THE WEBSITE SO YOU COULD SIGN UP AND GET COVID TESTS I SIGNED UP.

HOW IS THE ROLLOUT OF THAT GONE?

>> WE DON'T KNOW YET.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ASSESS THIS UNTIL TESTS GET SHIPPED OUT WHICH WILL BE TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH.

FOUR TESTS SHOULD BE SHIPPED TO EACH ADDRESS THAT ORDERS ONE.

I ORDERED ONE.

AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT I COULD ACCESS THE WEB SOIVMENT ALL MY PAST COVID EXPERIENCES ESPECIALLY AT THE BEGINNING WAS DIFFICULTY FINDING TESTS, TOUGH TIME FINDING A VACCINE.

TO HAVE SOMETHING WORK WAS NICE.

THE OTHER THING THE FEDS ARE DOING IS SENDING MASKS TO PHARMACIES AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY THE N95 MASKS EXTRA PROTECTIVE AGAINST OMICRON THOSE WILL BEGIN SHIPPING THIS WEEK FOR DISTRIBUTION LATE NEXT WEEK.

>> IT'S BEEN HARD TO FIND THOSE N95 MASKS.

LET'S MOVE ON TO CITY NEWS.

AFTER REPORTING IN "THE SUN TIMES" THAT TOP POLICE BRASS HAVE LOST FAITH IN SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SLAMMED THE SOURCES IN THAT ARTICLE FOR SPEAKING HONESTLY.

>> IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO YOUR JOB, IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO GET OUT OF YOUR CAR AND ENGAGE WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, EVERY SINGLE DAY EVERY SHIFT, THEN YOU DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHAT I HEAR IN THIS ANONYMOUS REPORTING IS FRANKLY PEOPLE WHO ARE COWARDS AND WANT TO GO BACK TO THE OLD WAYS THAT SERVED THEM BUT DID NOT SERVE THE PEOPLE.

>> LORRAINE FORTE, DO YOU BUY THAT THERE'S LARGE SCALE DISSATISFACTION WITH DAVID BROWN AND THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT OR AS HE SAID A FEW DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES THAT DON'T WANT TO SEE THE DEPARTMENT CHANGE?

>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HAS BEEN AT ODDS WITH THE MAYOR AND WITH CITY HALL FOR A LONGTIME.

WE SAW WHAT YOU KNOW DURING THE RUN UP TO GET POLICE VACCINATED.

WE SAW THE RHETORIC SCALE UP THERE.

WIDE SCALE YOU KNOW IT'S HARD TO TELL.

I'M NOT ON THE STREET WITH THE RANK-AND-FILE.

BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY DISCONTENT THERE.

AND CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL, IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS GOT TO BE DEALT WITH BECAUSE WE NEED A FUNCTIONING POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I THINK SOME OF IT HAS TO DO PERSONALLY, I THINK SOME OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT LORI LIGHTFOOT AND DAVID BROWN WORK VERY CLOSE TOGETHER BECAUSE OF ANTAGONISM TOWARDS CITY HALL SOME OF THAT SPILLS OVER ON THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT.

AND PERHAPS SOME OF THE POLICE AND THE HIGH RANKING OFFICERS THINK WHO IS REALLY RUNNING THE DEPARTMENT, IS IT THE SUPERINTENDENT?

IS IT THE MAYOR?

I THINK ALL OF THAT PLAYS INTO IT.

BUT DEFINITELY, SOME OF IT A LOT OF IT, I THINK, IT HAS TO GO WITH ANTAGONISM TOWARD CITY HALL AS MUCH AS TOWARD SUPERINTENDENT BROWN.

>> IF YOU ARE GOING TO MEASURE ON THE CITY'S CRIME RIT RATE THE SUPERINTENDENT IS NOT GOING TO GET GREAT GRADES.

HANNAH MEISEL IS THERE ANY SCENARIO HERE WHERE MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT DOESN'T STICK BY DAVID BROWN THAT WOULDN'T BE POLITICALLY DAMAGING TO HER?

THIS IS HER MARQUEE PICK HERE.

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I THINK OBVIOUSLY A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION BUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WHEN A NEW MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAD TO QUICKLY CHANGE GEARS ON WHETHER SHE SUPPORTED THE PREVIOUS POLICE SUPERINTENDENT AFTER HIS SCANDAL BEING FOUND DRUNK IN A CAR AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT FOLLOWED.

YEAH, I MEAN, ANYTHING THAT SHE -- THERE IS A LOT OF POLITICAL KRYPTONITE HERE.

AND IT'S A REALLY HARD JOB.

THE PANDEMIC HAS SEEN A RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME, A RISE IN THIS ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS DEALING WITH THAT.

BUT FOR YOU WOULD HOPE THAT BEHIND THE SCENES, EVEN IF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS PUBLICLY BACKING PER POLICE SUPERINTENDENT YOU WOULD HOPE THAT BEHIND THE SCENES THEY ARE HAVING TOUGH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE.

AND SHE IS THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT HOW THAT RELATIONSHIP SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD AND METRICS THAT HE HAS TO MEET.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE METRICS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO CITY HALL.

BUT THEY MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT METRICS.

METRICS ABOUT MAKING 1.5 MILLION CONTACTS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

BUT THEN IF YOU MEASURE THAT BY ARRESTS, WHAT REALLY WHAT GOOD IS THAT DOING?

I DO HOPE THERE ARE THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING.

>> THOSE KINDS OF STOPS HAVE BEEN SCRUTINIZED BY LEGAL GROUPS LIKE THE A.C.L.U.

AND THE A.C.L.U.

IS NOT A FAN OF THE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S PLAN TO SIEZE THE ASSETS OF SUSPECTED GANG MEMBERS.

KELLY BAUER, IT DOES SEEM LIKE A LEGALLY FRAUGHT PLAN.

DOES IT HAVE ANY SUPPORT IN CITY COUNCIL WHATSOEVER?

>> IT HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL FROM THE BEGINNING.

WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP IT WAS CRITICIZED BY A NUMBER OF ALDERMEN AND THE A.C.L.U.

AND OUTSIDE EXPERTS WHO SAY IT COULD LEAVE THE CITY OPEN TO BE SUED AND COULD COST THE CITY MORE MONEY.

SO I THINK IT WILL BE A TOUGH CALL.

A LOT OF ALDERMEN PUSHED BACK AGAINST IT.

AND RIGHT NOW, THE BIG FOCUS IS ON FINDING HOLISTIC METHODS FOR ALDERMEN TO COMBAT AND PREVENT VIOLENCE RATHER THAN GOING AFTER THIS LAWSUIT ANGLE.

>> THESE ARE THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT CROP UP WITH THE GANG DATABASE HOW DO YOU PROVE SOMEONE IS IN A GANG IN A COURT OF LAW?

SOME WOULD COULD PRESENT EVIDENCE THEY ARE NOT IN THE GANG.

A.D. QUIG.

>> WHAT I WAS GOING TO POINT OUT THE OTHER JURISDICTION THAT HAVE TRIED THIS IT'S CALLED CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE.

AND THERE IS ACTUALLY A STATE LAW THAT ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO IT.

BUT OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES INCLUDING FEDERAL HAVE ABANDONED IT BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH IT.

AND HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE THE AVERAGE GANG MEMBER ON THE STREET HAS A TON OF MONEY.

I MEAN IT'S NOT LIKE THEY ARE LIVING IN MANSIONS WITH A BUNCH OF MONEY IN THE WALL THAT YOU COULD GO SIEZE AND TWO OR THREE CARS IN A GARAGE THAT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT ASSETS.

SO THAT'S WHY LAWYERS ARE PUSHING BACK PARTLY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN INEFFECTIVE AND ABANDONED ELSEWHERE.

BUT ALSO REALLY WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GET FOR IT?

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GET FOR YOUR EFFORTS.

>> AND A.D. QUIG ALSO THIS WEEK, THE MAYOR REFUSED TO RELEASE FULL INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORTS FIRST WITH REGARD TO THE SMOKESTACK IMPLOSION IN LITTLE VILLAGE WITH HILCO.

WHY WON'T SEE RELEASE THIS?

>> HER GENERAL JUSTIFICATION IS THAT SHE CREATED AN ORDINANCE AT THE BEGINNING THAT SAID I WILL RELEASE CERTAIN SENSITIVE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORTS UNDER A COUPLE CONDITIONS IF IT INVOLVES A FELONY OR IF IT INVOLVES A DEATH.

NEITHER OF THESE ARE MET WITH THIS CASE.

WHAT SHE DOESN'T SAY IS THIS IS THE LAW SHE CREATED AND SHE CAN CHANGE THE LAW TO RELEASE THE CASES LIKE THIS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

TO REMIND FOLKS WHAT HAPPENED THIS IS BACK IN APRIL OF 2020 THE IMPLOSION AT THE CRAW FORD COAL PLANNED AT THE BEGINNING OF COVID WHEN FEARS WERE HIGH OF THE RESPIRATORY ILLNESS.

WE RECEIVED THIS LONG AWAITED REPORT FROM THE IG'S OFFICE RECOMMENDING THAT A PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE BE FIRED AND TWO OTHERS REPRIMANDED.

THE CITY DID NOT FIRE THAT EMPLOYEE THEY GAVE THEM A WRITTEN REPRIMAND.

AND OFFICIALS WERE WARNED THAT THIS COULD BE A DISASTER, 200 DAYS AHEAD OF TIME, 50 DAYS AHEAD OF TIME.

FOR THE FOLKS IN LITTLE VILLAGE IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE WERE NOT PUNISHED ENOUGH AND WE DON'T KNOW THE FULL STORY OF WHAT EXACTLY THE CITY DID AND DIDN'T DO.

>> OBVIOUSLY IT'S LED TO MORE SNIPING BETWEEN HER AND THE FORMER INSPECTOR GENERAL JOE FERGUSON.

LET'S MOVE ON TO STATE NEWS.

THE G.O.P.

RACE FOR GOVERNOR GOT A ENTRANT AS RICHARD IRVIN THREW HIS HAT INTO THE RING ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY.

>> I GREW UP IN SECTION 8 PUBLIC HOUSING IN AURORA.

RIGHT NOW I SERVE AS MAYOR.

MOM HAD ME AT 16.

A SINGLE MOTHER WORKING TWO JOBS.

DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A FATHER.

BUT MY GRANDDAD.

TAUGHT ME TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF.

>> HANNAH THERE IS A ROPE ADOPE GOING ON WHERE REPORTS SAY THAT IRVIN IS GOING TO GET MONEY FROM KEN GRIFFIN.

KEN GRIFFIN PUTS OUT A STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF IRVIN WHEN IRVIN ANNOUNCED AND KEN GRIFFIN SAID I HAVE NOT MADE DECISIONS BUT I WANT SOMEONE TO DEFEAT J.B. PRITZKER.

IS THERE ANY DOUBT THAT THIS IS KEN GRIFFIN'S CANDIDATE?

>> NO, THERE WOULDN'T BE A CONCERTED EFFORT A WELL ORGANIZED CAMPAIGN THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR MONTHS.

AND YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT JUST A RICHARD IRVIN CAMPAIGN IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN ILLINOIS BEFORE.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OTHER STATES.

BUT THERE IS A SLATE OF THESE SORT OF MODERATE BUSINESS-FOCUSED G.O.P.

CANDIDATES WHO RUNNING TOGETHER.

EVERYONE FROM RICHARD IRVIN THE GUBERNATORIAL OFFICE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SECRETARY OF STATE AND COMPTROLLER AND THEY ARE ALL GOING TO BE SINGING FROM THE SAME SONGBOOK AND IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S VERY INTERESTING IT'S RISKY.

>> MAKE TEXT FROM THE SAME CHECKBOOK.

I HAD TO THROW THAT IN THERE.

>> AND KEN GRIFFIN IS REPORTEDLY VOWED TO SPEND UPWARDS OF $300 MILLION ON THE CAMPAIGN CYCLE.

TO BE ABLE TO MATCH THE LARGES OF BILLIONAIRE J.B. PRITZKER WHO HAS NO PROBLEM SPENDING A TON OF MONEY ON HIS CAMPAIGN IN 2018.

HE DUMPED $171.5 MILLION.

AND FRIDAY NIGHT HE DUMPED ANOTHER $90 MILLION IN HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> RIGHT AFTER THE NEWS BROKE THAT IRVIN WOULD GET IN.

KELLY BAUER, IRVIN IS NOT A TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE AT LEAST AS THE PARTY DEFINES ITSELF NOW.

THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE RACE THAT POINT TO THE FACT THAT HE PULLED DEMOCRATIC BALLOTS IN THE PAST.

HE SUPPORTED THINGS LIKE BLACK LIVES MATTER.

DO YOU THINK HE HAS A PATH TO VICTORY IN A G.O.P.

PRIMARY?

>> WELL, I THINK HE HAS A LOT OF POPULARITY AND A BIG POINT IS THAT PEOPLE THINK HE COULD BEAT PRITZKER IF HE HAS THE BACKING OF A BILLIONAIRE.

I THINK THAT PRITZKER THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THINGS WERE HANDLED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THINGS LIKE MASKS AND MANDATES THE STAY AT HOME ORDER.

I THINK HE IS IN MORE OF A VULNERABLE POSITION.

I THINK THAT DOES LEAVE THINGS OPEN FOR REPUBLICAN TO STAND IN AND ESPECIALLY ONCE WHO COULD APPEAL TO PEOPLE A LITTLE MORE ON THE FENCE AND WHO HAS BACKING IN A MAJOR WAY FROM A BIG FUNDER.

>> MY FIRST REACTION AND WHEN I SAW THE AD AND SAW THE WEBSITE WITH AVERY BOURNE AND RICHARD IRVIN, THEY REALLY WANT TO GET THAT SUBURBAN WOMAN VOTE.

LORRAINE FORTE, IS THIS A VIABLE STRATEGY ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT YOU'VE GOT THREE OR FOUR OTHER CANDIDATES THAT MIGHT SPLIT THE DOWN STATE CONSERVATIVE VOTE?

>> IF YOU HAVE OTHER CANDIDATES AS YOU SAID WHO ARE SPLITTING A VOTE DOWN STATE AND IF YOU'VE GOT -- I'M NOT A SUBURBAN WOMAN BUT I AM A CITY PERSON.

IF YOU HAVE A CANDIDATE WHO CAN APPEAL TO THOSE SUBURBAN WOMEN OR SUBURBAN PEOPLE IN GENERAL, I THINK THERE IS A CHANCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS, I THINK I READ HE HAS 10 TIMES AS MUCH MONEY AS PRITZKER.

AND IF HE IS WILLING TO SPEND IT, MONEY BUYS AN AWFUL OF ADS.

AND AN AWFUL LOT OF CAMPAIGN MAILERS, AND A LOT OF EVERYTHING THAT IS NEEDED TO WIN.

SO I THINK HE DOES HAVE A CHANCE IF HE GETS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.

>> HANNAH MEISEL MONEY MIGHT HAVE TO BUY NAME RECOGNITION.

PRITZKER DEFEATING EVERY SINGLE OPPONENT IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS PRIMARY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE FROM AN RESEARCH STANDPOINT, A CAMPAIGN AD STANDPOINT ARE THEY GOING TO TEAR EACH OTHER DOWN?

>> OF COURSE THEY ARE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A EXPENSIVE RACE AND IT WILL GET UGLY PRETTY SOON.

FIRST WE HAVE THE PRIMARY AND TRADITIONALLY IN ILLINOIS OUR PRIMARY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH.

IT WAS MOVED TO THE END OF JUNE BECAUSE OF COVID, BECAUSE OF REDISTRICTING AND THEN WE HAVE TO GET ALL THE WAY TO NOVEMBER 8TH AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY UGLY.

BUT I THINK MY QUESTION IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IS YES YOU ARE RIGHT, NAME RECOGNITION IS GOING TO HAVE TO -- IF RICHARD IRVIN WANTS TO MAKE IT THEN NAME RECOGNITION HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO GET THAT FAST.

THE PERSON WITH THE MOST NAME RECOGNITION IS G.O.P.

STATE SENATOR DARREN BAILEY WHO FOR TWO YEARS HAS BEEN FIGHTING GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ON HIS COVID RESTRICTIONS AND HAS GOTTEN FAMOUS THAT WAY IN DOWN STATE REPUBLICAN CIRCLES.

AND IF HE CAN PARLAY THAT INTO A ENDORSEMENT FROM A DONALD TRUMP, THAT WOULD BE PRETTY MAJOR THAT WOULD CHANGE THINGS.

BUT AS THIS POINT WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS GOING TO BE POSSIBLE.

NONE OF THESE FOUR CANDIDATES WHO DECLARED THEIR CANDIDACY MONTHS AGO ALMOST A YEAR AGO FOR TWO OF THEM, DO NOT HAVE THE CAMPAIGN CASH.

>> AND IRVIN'S FOLKS ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT BAILEY PULLED THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY BALLOT IN AN ELECTION AND THAT STORE ARE I IN THE TRIBUNE THAT HE USED AND HIS FAMILY USED HALF A MILLION IN PPP LOANS FOR HIS FAMILY FARM WHEN HE HAS SAID HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS AN EXAMPLE WHAT WE WILL BE PRIVY TO.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE OUT OF TIME, THANKS TO A.D. QUIG, KELLY BAUER, LORRAINE FORTE AND HANNAH MEISEL.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

YOU CAN 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" AND AFTER THAT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" AT 6:30 AND WE'RE BACK AT 7:00 P.M. NEXT WEEK.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AND STAY WARM.

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