[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" GUESTS IN JUST A MOMENT BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS SPENT HOURS QUESTIONING THE HEAD OF ILLINOIS' EMBATTLED DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES DIRECTOR.

THE SOCIAL WORKER WAS KILLED WHEN SHE MADE A VISIT TO A HOME WHERE CHILDREN WERE BELIEVED TO BE IN DANGER.

CRITICS SAY FIELD WORKERS NEED MORE PROTECTION.

>> WHEN I THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY ARE ABLE TO CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT DIRECTLY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THEIR SUPERVISORS TO GO TO HOMES WHICH THEY DEEM UNSAFE THROUGH OUR BACKGROUND INFORMATION WE GET FROM THE HOMELESS WE ARE GOING INTO.

>> JUDGES HELD DCFS DIRECTOR MARK SMITH IN CONTEMPT FOR VIOLATING THE WARDS OF THE STATE KEPT IN A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY MONTHS AFTER CLEARED FOR DISCHARGE AND PLACEMENT WITH FAMILIES.

SMITH SAYS THE HEAD COUNT IS THE HIGHEST IT HAS BEEN IN A DECADE BUT DEMANDS FOR SERVICES ALSO INCREASED.

IN 2018 THEY HAD 16600 KIDS IN CARE AND THAT NUMBER IS OVER 21,000.

>> RESIDENTS IN COOK, DUPAGE AND LAKE COUNTY ZIP CODES RANKED AS THE MOST SOCIALLY ENVIRONMENTABLE CAN RECEIVE FREE RAPID COVID TESTS THROUGH PROJECT ACT.

THE I KITS ARE FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVE AND ARE AVAILABLE AT NO SHIPPING COST.

>> STEADY SNOWFALL MEANS AREAS IN AND AROUND CHICAGO ARE DEALING WITH MORE THAN NINE INCHES ON THE GROUND.

NO MORE SNOW IS EXPECTED THE THROUGH THE WEEKEND BUT THE WIND-CHILL TOMORROW TO HIT -9.

BUT WARMING UP SUNDAY AND EARLY NEXT WEEK WHEN TEMPERATURES COULD HIT A BALMLY 39°.

>> AND THE LONG TIME OWNER OF ARLINGTON INTERNATIONAL RACE COURSE DUCHOSSOIS DIED.

THE VETERAN AND FOUNDER OF THE BUSH BUSH GROUP DUCHOSSOIS WAS A BUSINESSMAN WHO POURED HIS LOVE INTO ARLINGTON.

TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL JOINING US ARE MIKE MULLIGAN OF WSCR670 THE SCORE.

BECKY VEVEA OF WBEZ, RACHEL HINTON OF THE BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION AND NADER ISSA OF "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES".

THIS WEEK ALL THE LEADERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND CITY ADDRESSED CHICAGO'S VIOLENCE AND WORKING TOGETHER.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> THE TRAGEDIES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR AND LAST AND HISTORICALLY REQUIRES US TO COME TOGETHER.

>> IT IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE A PUBLIC SHOWING OF WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES.

>> WE HAVE A CHALLENGE.

ALL OF US, EVERYONE.

WE NEED TO STEP UP AND MEET THE CHALLENGE.

>> WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP WHETHER WE WANT TO OR NOT.

>> FIRST, LET'S TAKE A BIT OF A TRAGIC REWIND.

ANOTHER WEEK OF SHOOTINGS AND CARJACKINGS INCLUDING A SHOOTOUT WITH POLICE ON LOWER WACKER DRIVE AND THE KILLING OF EIGHT-YEAR-OLD MELISSA ORTEGA.

VIOLENCE AND SHOOTINGS HAVE BECOME CUSTOMARY BUT RACHEL IS THIS WEEK DIFFERENT?

WHY ARE WE SEEING THE UNITED POLITICAL FRONT FROM LEADERS TODAY?

>> THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR AND I THINK ALL THREE OF THEM, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, KIM FOXX AND C.P.D.

SUPERINTENDENT BROWN HAVE ALL WANTED TO ADDRESS CRIME.

WE'RE SEEING THEM COME TOGETHER AFTER THE DEATH OF THIS EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN LITTLE VILLAGE BECAUSE THIS IS A MOMENT FOR UNITY.

BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK IT WILL MEAN A CHANGE IN THE POLITICKING THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

OBVIOUSLY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF THE COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS PUT INTO PLACE BUT THEY SEE THIS AS A MOMENT OF UNITY.

ALL THREE OF THEM ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ADDRESSING THE CRIME SURGE THAT WE'RE SEEING.

SO I THINK THEY CAME TOGETHER DURING THIS MOMENT TO SHOW A UNITED FRONT AND ALSO HOPEFULLY FROM HERE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT WILL BEGIN TO PAVE THE WAY TO HOPEFULLY SEEING A REDUCTION OF CRIME IN THE CITY.

>> BECKY, CHIEF JUDGE EVANS SAYS WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER WHETHER WE WANT TO OR NOT.

DO THE LEADERS WANT TO COME TOGETHER?

OR ARE POLITICAL FUTURES, POLICE POLICY DIFFERENCES TOO WIDE?

>> I THINK RACHEL HINTON HIT IT IT IS A NEW YEAR AND ALSO AN ELECTION YEAR.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE KIM FOXX UP FOR REFLECTION AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT FOLLOWING IN 2023.

THEY WILL GET TORN APART BY THEIR CHALLENGERS.

YOU WILL NEED I THINK GETTING INTO THIS DISAGREEMENTS WITH EACH OTHER IS NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP THEM IN AN ELECTION YEAR EITHER.

WE'LL SEE WHAT COMES OF IT.

THEY ALSO NEED TO SHOW PROGRESS THIS YEAR OVER LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS WERE ONCE IN A GENERATION RECORD-HIGH.

SO WE NEED TO SEE I THINK THEY ALL HAVE SOME INCENTIVE TO REALLY CRACKDOWN AND MAKE PROGRESS THIS YEAR WHEN IT RELATES TO CRIME.

>> MIKE IT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

ARE THEY BETTER SERVED GETTING ALONG OR OPPOSING ONE ANOTHER WHEN IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR?

WHAT IS BETTER OFF?

>> YOU KNOW THERE'S SO MUCH DYSFUNCTION AMONG THE KEY PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND THE CITY ITSELF FEELS BROKEN.

AND IT FEELS LIKE THINGS ARE GETTING WORSE.

SO I THINK FROM AN APPEARANCE SAKE, IT LOOKS BETTER IF THEY ARE TOGETHER.

IT LOOKS BETTER IF PEOPLE TRY TO PUT WHATEVER GRIEVANCES THEY HAVE ASIDE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S GREAT SINCERITY BEHIND IT.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BAIL ANYONE OUT COME ELECTION TIME.

BUT I DO THINK THAT PART OF THE DYSFUNCTION IS THESE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WHICH SEEM BROKEN AS MUCH AS THE CITY.

>> NADER ISSA, MELISSA ORTEGA'S MOM SAYS THE SYSTEM FAILED HER DAUGHTER AND THE ALLEGED TEEN MURDERER.

WHAT CAN BE DONE EVEN IF THESE LEADERS WERE TO GET ALONG WHERE ARE WE AT THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN THAT WILL SAVE THE LIFE OF A YOUNG EIGHT-YEAR-OLD?

>> WELL, IT TAKES A LOT.

THERE IS NO ONE SOLUTION.

EVERYTHING THAT ACTIVISTS TALKED ABOUT, YOU TALK ABOUT INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES, INVESTING IN SCHOOLS, INVESTING IN JOB OPPORTUNITIES, INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT HELP HEAL A COMMUNITY AND REBUILD A COMMUNITY THAT IS WHAT IT TAKES TO STOP VIOLENCE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VIOLENCE AND WE TALKED ABOUT POLICING, TYPICALLY POLICING IS COMING AFTER THE FACT.

A CRIME IS HAPPENING AND THEY ARE TRYING TO SOLVE IT AND FIND WHO DID IT.

WE KEEP SEEING MORE POLICE OFFICERS ADDED AND CRIME IS GOING UP AND UP.

THAT CERTAINLY HASN'T HELPED.

AND I MEAN WE TALK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THOSE COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS DONE TOGETHER YOU NEED LEADERS TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND I MEAN THEY CAME TOGETHER AT THIS PRESS CONFERENCE AND THEN ONE OF THE SEEDS THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT PLANTED A FEW MONTHS AGO ABOUT A LOT OF OFFENDERS ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING, HOUSE ARREST THEN GOING AND COMMITTED NEW CRIMES YOU SAW THAT START TO CREEP UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SAYING THIS 16-YEAR-OLD GUNMAN WAS ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING WHICH TURNED OUT NOT TO BE TRUE.

YOU START TO HAVE THE LITTLE PROBLEMS THAT FESTER AND PREVENT ANY SOLUTIONS FROM COMING TOGETHER.

>> AND ACTUALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO QUICKLY GO AROUND EACH OF YOU AS THIS NOTION OF ELECTRONIC MONITORING COMES UP.

YOU HAD TIM EVANS DOUBLING DOWN ON HIS APPROACH TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM UNDER ACCUSATIONS THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN TOO LENIENT HE SAYS THERE IS NO CUTOFF FOR TRYING TO REHABILITATE A YOUTH WHO HAS GOTTEN IN TROUBLE.

IS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT THE ONE WHO IS MOST GOING TO WEAR THE BLAME FOR THIS?

OR IS IT FOXX, EVANS SOMEONE ELSE?

IS IT LIGHTFOOT, MIKE START WITH YOU.

>> I THINK EVANS MISSPOKE TODAY.

DIDN'T HE TALK ABOUT THE 16-YEAR-OLDS ARE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE -- I SAW THERE WAS A HUBLG PUSHBACK ON THAT.

I THINK THEY ARE EACH GOING TO TAKE THEIR TURN AS WE GO THROUGH THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

>> RACHEL?

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE CHALLENGER IN THE RIGHT HANDS OF AN INTELLIGENT CHALLENGER SOMEONE POLITICALLY SAVVY IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, AND KIM FOXX THOSE TWO WILL HAVE TO RECKON OR BE MADE TO RECKON WITH THE CRIME THAT WE'RE SEEING ESPECIALLY THE SURGE.

I THINK SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN HAS TO RECKON WITH IT A LITTLE BIT LESS.

BUT IF MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT DOESN'T GET REELECTED TO ANOTHER TURN MAY BE HE WILL BE BOOTED FROM OFFICE AND WHOEVER THE NEXT MAYOR IS WILL POINT TO THE CRIME SURGE AS A REASON FOR GETTING RID OF HIM.

>> AND LET'S MOVE ON.

BECKY, ON A DIFFERENT POLITICAL QUESTION WHEN A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT OPENS UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, WHY NOT TAKE A STAB AT THE RACE TO REPLACE 15-TERM CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH IS GETTING MORE CROWDED BY THE DAY.

JESSE JACKSON'S SON JONATHAN IS JOINING THE RUN.

IS HE A AUTOMATIC FRONTRUNNER?

>> NOT MANY PEOPLE NO KAREN REEVES'S NAME AND YOU HAVE PAT DOWELL WHO LEFT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE AND HAS WRACKED UP ENDORSEMENTS AS WELL.

I DON'T THINK JONATHAN JACKSON IS THE FOREGONE FRONTRUNNER.

HE HAS PROBABLY THE BEST NAME RECOGNITION OF THOSE THREE.

BUT I TOSSED OUT BUT THERE'S OTHERS THROWING THEIR NAMES IN THE RING AND WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL FILING DEADLINES COME AND WHO IS GOING TO END UP ON THE BALLOT.

AND OBVIOUSLY WATCHING THEIR CAMPAIGN ACCOUNTS WILL BE SOMETHING TO LOOK FOR AS WELL.

THAT IS A BIG RACE AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE BIG MONEY IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE VOTE.

>> RACHEL, YOU HAVE THE NAME RECOGNITION OF HIS FATHER AND MIGHT HE BE HIT-AND-RUNNERRED BY JESSE JACKSON JR.

WENT TO PRISON FOR FAHD WHEN HE WAS SERVING AS CONGRESSMAN OR IS IT NOT FAIR TO LINK THEM.

>> I THINK HE WILL FACE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT IT IS NOT FAIR TO LINK THEM.

HE HAS NOT FACED ALLEGATIONS OR GONE TO JAIL.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY FAIR TO LINK THEM OR FAIR THAT HE FACES QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

I THINK HE STANDS ON HIS OWN MERITS AND BACKGROUND AND HE SHOULD BE QUESTIONED HARD ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T THINK HE SHOULD GET A SAIL INTO OFFICE BECAUSE OF WHO HIS FATHER IS.

>> NOW, RETURNING TO TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE.

WE ALSO STAY ON ELECTIONS AND MOVING TO THE TOP OF THE TICKET REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR, RICHARD IRVIN AND JESSE SULLIVAN ARE OUT WITH TOUGH ON CRIME ADS.

MIKE, IS THIS GOING TO BE THE SEAM THROUGH 2022 IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT IS AMAZING ABOUT IT IS HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING THROWN AT THIS.

I UNDERSTAND WE'VE GOT BILLIONAIRE TO BILLIONAIRE BEING GOVERNOR.

SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE NOTHING BUT THESE KINDS OF ADS.

I'VE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN ABACK BY HOW MANY ADS I'VE ALREADY SEEN.

I THINK THE DEEP POCKETS ARE GOING TO MAKE WHATEVER ISSUE THEY FEEL IS MAKING THEM ELECTABLE THE ONE THEY TRY TO CONCENTRATE ON.

>> MONEY, MONEY, MONEY IN POLITICS ALWAYS.

NOW, ANOTHER RACE JUMPING AHEAD TO 2023 A LITTLE BIT IS OF COURSE THE RACE FOR MAYOR.

AND ARNE DUNCAN MADE HEADLINES THIS WEEK WITH A SPEECH THAT SEEMINGLY SLAMMED MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S APPROACH TO CRIME.

NOW, BECKY, IS THIS A SOFT LAUNCH BY ARNE DUNCAN FOR A BID TO RUN AGAINST LIGHTFOOT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW HE KEEPS SAYING HE IS SERIOUSLY THINK BEING IT.

I THINK AT THIS POINT IT DOES SEEM LIKELY THAT HE WILL GET INTO THE RACE.

AND HIS EXPERIENCE AT THE NONPROFIT HE HAS BEEN WORKING AT IS ALL RELATED TO CRIME.

AND GET BACK TO YOUR LAST QUESTION, I THINK CRIME IS NOT ONLY GOING TO COLOR THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IT'S GOING TO COLOR THE MAYOR'S RACE.

AND I THINK THAT ARNE DUNCAN CAME OUT SWINGING THIS WEEK REALLY TO TAKE HER TO TASK ON THOSE NUMBERS FROM LAST YEAR WHERE WE ENDED WITH HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS.

AND I DO THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THE VOTING -- VOTERS WILL DIVIDE ON VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THIS.

YOU WILL HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE TOUGH ON CRIME.

AND YOU WILL HAVE FOLKS WHO WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

LIGHTFOOT SHOT BACK TRYING TO PAINT ARNE DUNCAN'S WHOLE SUGGESTION AS DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH THAT CAMPAIGN AND THE RACE FOR MAYOR PLAY OUT.

AS IT RELATES TO THE BROADER ISSUES WITH CRIME AND THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AS WELL.

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, HANDLING ALL OF THESE RACES ALL AT ONCE AND WE WILL GET TO MORE IN A BIT.

NADER ISSA DUNCAN MAY BE FAMILIAR TO CHICAGOANS HE SERVED AS C.E.O.

OF C.P.S.

HOW IS THAT SIGNIFICANT?

>> WELL, HE SERVED AS C.E.O.

OF C.P.S.

AND THEN WENT ON TO BE PRESIDENT OBAMA'S EDUCATION SECRETARY.

HE HAS EXPERIENCE IN THE CITY.

HE HAS THAT NATIONAL PROFILE THAT HE CAN BACK HIS CAMPAIGN UP WITH.

I THINK IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CHALLENGING MAYOR LIGHTFOOT, HE IS GOING TO SAY I HAVE THE AUTHORITY ON SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN A MESS UNDER YOUR THREE YEARS UNDER YOUR THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS AT THAT POINT IN THE CAMPAIGN AND I KNOW HOW BEST TO RUN THE SCHOOLS.

NOW, IF WE TALK ABOUT OTHER CHALLENGERS WHO MIGHT COME IN WHO MIGHT CARE ABOUT SCHOOLS, I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ARNE DUNCAN SAYING HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR C.P.S.

THERE WERE A TON OF SCHOOL CLOSURES WHEN HE WAS A C.E.O.

AND HE WAS SEEN AS PART OF THE CORPORATE PUBLIC SCHOOL REFORM MOVEMENT.

AND HE IS NOT WELL LIKED AMONG PROGRESSIVES AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ADVOCATES.

SO YEAH, THAT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH SELL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THE SCHOOLS CLOSELY.

>> AND NADER, YOU LED ME TO THE NEXT QUESTION AND THAT IS ANOTHER BIG NAME IN CHICAGO SCHOOLS AND ANOTHER POSSIBLE CONTENDER FOR MAYOR AND THAT IS TEACHERS' UNION VICE-PRESIDENT STACY DAVIS GATES.

SHE IS FACING AN INTRAUNION CHALLENGE.

RACHEL ARE THEY VULNERABLE?

>> I THINK IN SOME WAYS YES.

WE ARE SO FAR OUT FROM THE ELECTION THAT LIKE ANYBODY CAN BE VULNERABLE IN THE RIGHT HANDS IN THE RIGHT -- IF YOU GET THE RIGHT CHALLENGER WITH THE RIGHT TEAM, YES THEY CAN BE VULNERABLE.

FOR THE MOST PART STACY DAVIS GATES AND JESSE SHARKEY ARE MOSTLY POPULAR WITHIN THE UNION'S RANKS.

I THINK THEY WILL BE OK.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE TO WAIT-AND-SEE WHO IS GOING TO EMERGE.

THERE'S A TICKET OUT.

TEACHERS FIRST OR SOMETHING FIRST I DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL NAME.

WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT TICKET IS GOING TO FLUSH ITSELF OUT AND WHAT BEYOND YOU KNOW, BEING AGAINST STRIKING THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE AN ISSUE.

I THINK DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY DECIDE THEIR TICKET OR CAMPAIGN MESSAGING INCLUDES WE COULD SEE AN ISSUE FOR BOTH.

>> NADER, THIS IS YOUR BEAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION?

YOU HAVE CONTINGENCY THAT SAYS THEY ARE REALLY DISSATISFIED PARTICULARLY ABOUT SPENDING BY C.T.U.

LEADERSHIP AND ALSO THE OUTCOME OF THIS WORK STOPPAGE THAT LED STUDENTS IN A BATTLE WITH THE MAYOR THAT LED STUDENTS TO BE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR FOUR DAYS.

>> RACHEL IS RIGHT IT'S SOMETHING CALLED MEMBERS FIRST.

THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

THEY HAVE RUN AGAINST THIS SORT OF JESSE SHARKEY STACY DAVIS GATES CAUCUS.

AND C.T.U.

IT'S CALLED CORE.

IT WAS FIRST AROUND WHEN KAREN LEWIS THE C.T.U.

PRESIDENT A DECADE AGO CAME INTO C.T.U.

LEADERSHIP.

MEMBERS FIRST WHAT THEIR AGENDA IS WHAT IS IN THE NAME.

WE WANT TO PUT MEMBERS FIRST.

WE WANT TO FIGHT FOR PAY AND BENEFITS.

AND WHAT CORE FIGHTS FOR IS STACY DAVIS GATES AND JESSE SHARKEY AND KAREN LEWIS BEFORE THEM, THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR SOME OF THE WRAP AROUND ISSUES WE'VE SEEN COME UP IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

SO THE NUMBER OF NURSES IN SCHOOLS, SOCIAL WORKERS, LIBRARIANS, CLASS SIZES.

NOW THESE PAST COUPLE YEARS, SAFETY DURING COVID.

THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE FOCUSED ON AND THE OTHER GROUP IS FOCUSED ON PAY AND BENEFITS GENERALLY SPEAKING.

THEY LOST THE LAST ELECTION TO JESSE AND STACY.

THEY ARE NOT A NEW GROUP IT IS NOT A NEW UPRISING THAT THE C.T.U.

LEADERSHIP IS FACING.

IN ANY ELECTION THERE WILL BE THE TWO TICKETS DUKING IT OUT.

OBVIOUSLY THIS PAST DUST UP WITH MAYOR LIGHTFOOT THERE WERE MORE MEMBERS THAN USUAL WHO WERE NOT HAPPY WITH C.T.U.

LEADERSHIP.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE UNHAPPY WITH LEADERSHIP ARE NECESSARILY GOING TO BE VOTING WITH MEMBERS FIRST.

BECAUSE THE UNHAPPINESS WAS FOR VERY DIFFERENT REASONS.

>> GOT IT.

AND NADER, YOU HAD A PIECE LOOKING AT WHAT IS LYING AHEAD FOR C.P.S.

AS WELL AS AS C.T.U.

IS THAT CONSTANT FACING OFF.

BUT LET'S MOVE THIS TO COVID IN SCHOOLS.

VACCINATION RATES ARE IMPROVING BUT THEY ARE STILL LOW.

WHAT IS THE DISTRICT DOING ABOUT THAT?

AND IS A VACCINE MANDATE FOR SCHOOLS REALISTIC?

BECKY?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S VERY REALISTIC THERE'S PRECEDENT THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF VACCINES THAT CHILDREN HAVE TO GET BEFORE THEY ENTER SCHOOL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

SO THE VACCINES WOULD HAVE TO BE FORMALLY APPROVED FOR THEM TO IMPLEMENT A MANDATE.

THEY CANNOT MANDATE SOMETHING UNDER EUA.

THEY WILL BE APPROVED FOR CHILDREN 5-11.

IT'S QUITE REALISTIC THE QUESTION IS: DOES THAT ADD ANY FUEL TO THE FIRE IN TERMS OF BEING AN ELECTION YEAR AND WE'LL SEE.

BUT I DO THINK VACCINATIONS IN SCHOOLS ARE SLOWLY IMPROVING.

THE VACCINATION RATES.

SOME SCHOOLS ARE STILL VERY, VERY, VERY LOW.

BUT I DID A LITTLE CHECK FOR MYSELF.

I WENT BACK TO THE ADULT VACCINATION ROLL OUT AND TWO MONTHS IN, MAYBE 5% OF THE CITY WAS FULLY VACCINATED.

AND WE ARE TO A THIRD OF THE C.P.S.

POPULATION.

TWO MONTHS INTO THE 5-11 AGE GROUP.

I THINK GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.

I SUPPOSE WE'LL SEE WHERE WE LAND.

I'VE HEARD FROM DOCTORS AND SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH PROVIDERS THAT THERE WAS A SLIGHT SURGE IN PEOPLE INTERESTED IN GETTING VACCINATED WHEN OMICRON CAME AROUND.

WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE WILLING TO GET VACCINATED DURING THIS LATEST SURGE.

WE'LL SEE WHERE WE GET COME NEXT SUMMER AND FALL.

>> SO MUCH AT PLAY, RIGHT WITH THE NOTION OF AVAILABILITY OF VACCINES AND THAT HUNGER GAMESSESQUE RACE TO TRY TO GET ONE.

AND OF COURSE THE VACCINE HESITANCY AND THERE ARE FEWER PLACES TO GET TESTED IN CHICAGO NOW.

RACHEL GIVEN THAT CHICAGO CENTER FOR COVID CONTROL SHUTTERED, SEEMINGLY THEY WERE NOT TRUSTWORTHY AND OTHER LOCAL TESTING COMPANIES UNDER INVESTIGATION HOW DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING THEY ARE RECEIVING GOVERNMENT MONEY?

>> YES, I THINK WHAT MANY PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT.

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO HAS BEEN ALL OVER THIS.

KELLY BAUER HAS BEEN BREAKING STORY AFTER STORY THAT GET FEDERAL DOLLARS HOW THEY ARE SCAMMERS.

I THINK THAT IS THE NEXT STORY WE'RE WAITING FOR.

THE NEXT THING WE'RE WAITING FOR.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN.

WE ARE SO FAR ALONG IN THE PANDEMIC, AND IN TESTING AND MASKS AND SO ON, I THINK THAT IS THE QUESTION MANY PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT NOW WHEN THEY SEE THESE THINGS HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

WHAT IS STILL GOING WRONG IN OUR COVID RESPONSE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN HAPPEN.

>> I'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT THE CHALLENGE OF GOVERNMENT NEEDING TO MOVE FASTER THAN IT TYPICALLY DOES TO ADDRESS A PANDEMIC AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU SEE THESE ISSUES POP-UP WITH RUSH OF SPENDING.

LET'S MOVE ON TO BRIGHTER TOPICS.

BEARS FANS HOPE SO.

THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREAT WIN OF 85 THAT SUPER BOWL SHUFFLE AND THE TEAM HAS A NEW GM AND HEAD COACH.

MIKE, DID THE McCASKEYS DO WELL WITH THE SHUFFLE AT THE TOP?

>> YOU KNOW IT FELT AS IF ANY CHANGE WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT QUITE FRANKLY.

SO I THINK THEY HAD GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE RYAN AND MATT WEREN'T WORKING OUT SO THEY HIRED A NEW RYAN AND MATT.

THEY GOT RYAN POLES AS THE GENERAL MANAGER AND BROUGHT IN A BRIGHT YOUNG GUY, 36 YEARS OLD.

PACE WAS 37 WHEN HE WAS HIRED AND THEY GAVE HIM SEVEN YEARS.

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HAPPEN QUICKER AND THEY HIRED MATT EBERFLUS, A LITTLE AGAINST THE GRAIN OF A HIRE EVERYONE IS GOING FOR THE OFFENSIVE GUYS IN THE NFL AND HE WAS THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR IN INDIANAPOLIS.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

THEY ARE NOT INTRODUCING EITHER GUY.

AND I BELIEVE POLES WAS HIRED ON TUESDAY.

THEY WILL DO THAT ON MONDAY.

THEY'VE GOT AN 11:00 A.M. NEWS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED.

AND THAT IS WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO UNVEIL THOSE GUYS.

PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING A LOT OF FINISHING TOUCHES TRYING TO GET THE STAFF TOGETHER.

EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR THAT IS THE BIGGEST QUESTION.

AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW WHO IS GOING TO WORK WITH THE QUARTERBACK.

IT IS UNUSUAL TO GET THE DEFENSIVE MINDED GUY IN THE MODERN NFL THE FOUR TEAMS REMAINING ALL OFFENSIVE GURU DRIVEN.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE NAME THEY LAND ON AS THEIR OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

WE'VE HEARD FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT NAMES.

THE PACKERS QUARTERBACK'S COACH THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY TALKING TO HIM.

HIS NAME IS LUKE GETSY AND HE WAS A GUY THAT INTERVIEWED FOR A HEAD COACHING JOB IN DENVER.

AND THE THINKING IS THEY MIGHT BE WILL THEY HIRED NATHANIAL HACKETT THE OFFENSIVE OF I HAVE COORDINATOR FORGETSY AND HE GETS TO CALL PLAYS BECAUSE MATT DOES THAT IN WISCONSIN.

WE'LL SEE WHO THEY WINDUP WITH.

BUT I THINK THERE'S REASON FOR OPTIMISM.

I THINK BEARS FANS ARE EXHAUSTED BY GOING THROUGH THESE PROCESS.

THEY HAD 16 DIFFERENT GENERAL MANAGE ZOOM IN AND 12 COACHES ITS A LOT OF PEOPLE TO FILTER THROUGH BEFORE THEY LANDED WITH THE TWO GUYS.

>> AND BEARS FANS ARE READY FOR IT.

AND MEANWHILE WE HAVE THE BULLS CHARGING AHEAD IF YOU WILL WITH MAKING IT TO THE ALL-STAR TEAM.

WITH THAT WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MIKE MULLIGAN, BECKY VEVEA, RACHEL HINTON AND NADER ISSA.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

AND NOW FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

GOOD NIGHT.

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