[♪♪♪] >> 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 SOME.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ANNOUNCES A 10 MILLION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO OVERCOME VACCINE HESITANCY AND DISINFORMATION ON THE DAY THAT NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE ANNOUNCES IT'S DETECTED THE FIRST CASE OF THE BRAZIL VARIANT IN ILLINOIS.

IT'S MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN OTHER STRAINS OF COVID-19.

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS IT'S IN TOUCH WITH CLOSE CONTACTS TO ENCOURAGE QUARANTINE.

PRITZKER SAID MISINFORMATION OF COVID HAS BEEN RAMPANT AND THE STATE WILL BEGIN SHIPPING VACCINES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH PROVIDERS TO REACH AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN THE HARDEST HIT BY THE VIRUS.

>> AMONG OUR MOST IMPORTANT GOALS TO GET THE VACCINES TO BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND REMOTE AREAS OF OUR STATE.

TO THOSE WHO HAVE TOO OFTEN BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

>> AND STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 1442 NEW CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND 33 DEATHS TAKING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES TO 1.2 MILLION AND THE DEATH TOLL TO 2700.

7 WERE ADMINISTERED YESTERDAY AND THAT IS A NEW DAILY RECORD.

TWO DEFENDANTS WITH LONG TIME POLITICAL CONNECTIONS PLEAD NOT GUILTY IN SEPARATE CORRUPTION CASES.

EDDIE ACEVEDO PLED NOT GUILTY TO TAX EVASION CHARGES STEMMING FROM THE ONGOING FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO ComEd AND A NOT GUILTY PLEA FROM ROBIN KELLY A POLITICAL OPERATIVE ACCUSED OF OFFERING BRIBES TO NOW DISGRACED ALDERMAN DANNY SOLIS AND PLED NOT GUILTY TOKING CAS OF WIRE FRAUD AND BRIBERY.

AN ALLEGED SCHEME TO STEER A JANITORIAL CONTRACT TO AN OHIO-BASED COMPANY.

>> ON TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL.

JOINING US ARE CRAIG DELLIMORE OF WBBM NEWS RADIO.

HEATHER CHERONE OF WTTW NEWS.

LOURDES DUARTE OF WGNTV NEWS AND RICK PEARSON OF THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE".

HEATHER CHERONE WE MENTIONED THE BRAZIL VARIANT REPORTEDLY FOUND IN CHICAGO HOW CONCERNED ARE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS P THIS VARIANT?

>> I THINK THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED.

THIS IS THE THIRD MORE TRANSMISERABLE VARIANT TO BE DISCOVERED IN ILLINOIS.

HOWEVER 69 CASES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM VARIANT HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN ILLINOIS THAT IS MUCH MORE PREVALENT IN ILLINOIS AND THE BIGGER SOURCE OF CONCERN.

HOWEVER, THAT'S WHY YOU'VE NOT SEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE POSITIVITY RATE AND START OPENING THINGS UP.

THE CONCERN IS THAT THE VARIANTS HAVE TAKEN ROOT AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME PORTFOLIO THEY START PUSHING UP THE NUMBER OF CASES AND THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND EVENTUALLY THE NUMBER OF DEATHS.

THAT IS WHY YOU'RE SEEING THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAYOR TAKE A CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO REOPENING EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THE DATA IS TRENDING DOWNWARD.

>> THIS HAPPENS AS COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE SIGNING UP FOR THE 110,000 AVAILABLE SLOTS AT THE UNITED CENTER TO GET THE VACCINE.

LOURDES DUARTE THERE WERE HICCUPS IN THE BEGINNING, THE WEBSITE WENT DOWN AND THE PHONE LINE WAS NOT WORKING.

HAS THE CITY FIGURED THAT OUT?

>> INITIALLY THE FIRST DAY THEY OPENED THE LINES THEY HAD ISSUES AND GLITCHES FOR 20-25 MINUTES AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT AND IN THAT DAY THEY GOT 20,000 PEOPLE TO GET THEIR VACCINATION.

OBVIOUSLY IT IS A CONCERN BECAUSE IF IT WENT DOWN ONCE THAT DOESN'T MAKE PEOPLE FEEL SECURE OR FEEL LIKE THEY CAN SIGN UP THE WAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO.

COULD THERE BE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE?

RIGHT NOW THEY ARE SAYING WE HAVE IT FIGURED OUT.

LET'S KEEP ON MOVING.

BECAUSE ALONG THE WAY THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER ISSUES THAT WILL COME UP.

WE HAVE TO WORK WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT.

>> AND OTHER MASS SITES IN THE CHICAGO AREA AND ACROSS ILLINOIS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED AND ARE OPENING UP.

RICK PEARSON JOHNSON & JOHNSON GETS THE SINGLE-DOSE VACCINE APPROVED.

HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL COME TO CHICAGO?

AND HOW COULD THAT SPEED UP THE VACCINATION PROCESS?

>> WELL, SEEMS VERY EVIDENT THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE MASS VACCINATION SITES.

I THINK QUITE FRANKLY WHILE THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF TALK THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW RELEVANT IT IS BECAUSE ABOUT ITS EFFICACY.

THE MERE FACT OF BEING ABLE TO ADMINISTER ONE DOSAGE RATHER THAN THE TWO DOSAGE OF THE PFIZER AND MODERNA MAKES THE PROCESS SO MUCH EASIER AND STREAMLINED.

AND AVOIDS A LOT OF THE HICCUPS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO GOT THE FIRST DOSE CAN GET THE SECOND DOSE AND THEY DO GET THE SECOND DOSE.

>> AND CRAIG DELLIMORE THE CITY DEPOSE BACK TO 50% -- GOES GABBING TO 50% FOR INDOOR DINING.

EXPLAIN THE METRICS FOR THE DECISION?

>> WHAT HEATHER WAS SAYING, WE HAVE SEEN THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE GO DOWN, THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN SINCE CORONAVIRUS HIT THE CHICAGO AREA.

AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING IS DOWN.

THEY ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO THE RESTAURANTS AND THE BARS WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN REALLY BIG TRANSMITTERS OF THE DISEASES OR SPREADERS OF THE DISEASES ANYWAY, ARE NOW ABLE TO GET SOMETHING CLOSER TO A LIVELIHOOD.

BECAUSE 25%, NO RESTAURANT'S BUSINESS MODEL ALLOWS THAT TO BE PROFITABLE.

BUT 50% THAT IS STILL NOT PROFITABLE BUT AT LEAST THEY CAN PROBABLY GET BY.

THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND SOME ARE EEKING ABOVE IT TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN.

THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN HOPING FOR.

>> SEE IF SOME FLAUNT THE RULES AND GO TO FULL CAPACITY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE FROM THIS WEEK.

CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY WINS THE RACE TO REPLACE MICHAEL MADIGAN BUT NOT WITHOUT INFIGHTING.

HERE IS FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT CULLERTON EXPRESSING CONCERNS.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THE STATE CHAIRMAN DOES IS RAISE MONEY WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.

TO BE A CHAIRMAN AND NOT BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY, IS REALLY A LIMITATION.

>> I MIGHT BE LIMITED IN SOME WAYS, WILL SETUP GUARDRAILS BUT IT IS NOT AN OBSTACLE TO ME BEING THE STATE PARTY CHAIR AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO CONTINUE BEING A ONE-MAN OR ONE WOMAN SHOW.

>> RICK PEARSON MICHAEL MADIGAN RULED THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LIKE HE RULED EVERYTHING ELSE TOP DOWN WITH AN IRON FIST BUT BUILT GIANT MAJORITIES FOR THE STATE.

HOW WILL ROBIN KELLY RUN THE PARTY?

>> NOBODY WANTS A ONE-MAN PARTY ANYMORE AFTER 23 YEARS OF MADIGAN HAVING DICTATORIAL CONTROL OVER IT.

THE OTHER PART TOO, IS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS AND ALL PRACTICAL SENSE WAS A FUNDRAISING ARM OF THE MADIGAN MACHINE WITH ITS MONEY BASICALLY GOING TO ILLINOIS HOUSE DEMOCRATS AND DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WHOSE JOB WAS TO INSURE THAT HE WOULD REMAIN IN POWER AS SPEAKER.

AFTER THESE LAST TWO MONTHS AND THE DECLINE IN MADIGAN'S POWER AND NO LONGER BEING SPEAKER NO LONGER BEING A HOUSE MEMBER AFTER 50 YEARS AND NOW NO LONGER BEING THE CHAIRMAN THIS WAS A VOTE ABOUT DECENTRALIZING THE AUTHORITY WITHIN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AND WANTING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DEMOCRATIC ACTIVISTS AND GET THEM MORE INVOLVED, THOSE ACTIVISTS THAT WERE SPURRED ON BY THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> CRAIG DELLIMORE, WHAT ABOUT FORMER SENATOR CULTURE TON'S CONCERNS.

BY LAW CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY CANNOT RAISE STATE AND LOCAL MONEY THAT CUTS OFF A FUNCTION SHE HAS.

WILL THAT BE A DISADVANTAGE FOR DEMOCRATS NEEDING TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE?

>> CALLING IT A DISADVANTAGE MAYBE WE ARE IN A NEW DAY NOW.

MONEY ISN'T RAISED THE WAY IT USED TO BE WHERE MICHAEL MADIGAN COULD JUST CALL IN THE UNIONS AND TELL THEM PONY UP.

RIGHT NOW, ONE PERSON ISN'T DOING IT ANYMORE.

AND A LOT OF IT IS COMING IN ON-LINE.

A LOT IS COMING IN JUST DIFFERENTLY FROM SMALLER DONORS.

PROBABLY NOT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A WIDER NET NOW, I THINK.

AND THAT IS FRANKLY THAT'S WHAT CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY IS PROMISING.

THAT IT IS GOING TO INVOLVE MORE PEOPLE LIKE RICK SAID, THIS IS THE TIME TO CHANGE THE WAY THE PARTY DOES THINGS, TO BROADEN ITS REACH DOWN STATE, AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN BUT IT WILL.

>> AND PERHAPS IT CARVES THE MASSIVE INFLUENCE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR UNIONS ON THE PARTY.

LOURDES DUARTE GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER MADE NO BONES ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE WANTED MICHELLE HARRIS TO GET THIS JOB AND THEY BACKED HER.

DICK DURBIN BACKED ROBIN KELLY.

IS THIS A LOSS FOR GOVERNOR PRITZKER OR A SIGN THAT HIS INFLUENCE ISN'T THAT STRONG IN THE PARTY?

>> YEAH, IT SURE LOOKS THAT WAY AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IS THE LATINO LAWMAKERS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CHUY GARCIA AND OTHER LATINOS BACKED ROBIN KELLY.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SORT OF THE LATINO COALITION AND THE CANDIDATES AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY BACKED HOW FAR THEY CAN GO IN THE LEVERAGE, THE IMPACT THE STRENGTH THAT THEY CAN HAVE IN THE FUTURE OF POLITICS HERE IN ILLINOIS.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.

>> CERTAINLY VERY IMPORTANT CONSTITUENCY BASE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HEATHER CHERONE, PRITZKER NOT ONLY IS THE GOVERNOR BUT HE IS THE MAJOR FUNDER OF THE PARTY HE HAS HAD A FEW LOSSES RECENTLY.

DOES THE PRITZKER CAMP HAVE TO RECALIBRATE ESPECIALLY SINCE HE HAS REELECTION IN 2022?

>> I THINK HE DOES.

WITH THE LOSS OF THE FAIR TAX.

THE LOSS OF HIS PICK FOR SENATE PRESIDENT.

AND THIS IS SORT OF THREE IS A TREND US IN THE JOURNALISM BECAUSE SAY IF YOU HAVE THREE SAMPLES OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE A TREND YOU CAN START WRITING THE STORIES.

THAT IS SOMETHING HE HAS TO KEEP HIS EYE ON LOOKING TOWARDS REELECTION.

IT WILL ALSO BEAR WATCHING WHETHER HE IS QUITE AS GENEROUS TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LED BY ROBIN KELLY AS HE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

I THINK ROBIN KELLY ALSO WARNED PEOPLE, ELECT ME AND WE WILL CREATE A FUNDRAISING BASE THAT WILL OUTLIVE ANY BILLIONAIRE.

BECAUSE I THINK THEY SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO REPUBLICAN PARTY IN ILLINOIS THE CAUTIONARY TALE.

THEIR FINANCES FELL OFF A CLIFF AFTER BRUCE RAUNER LOST AND MOVED TO FLORIDA AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHENEVER PRITZKER LEAVES THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

>> AND THAT IS A PERFECT SEGUE TO THE NEXT STORY.

BRUCE RAUNER WHO LIVES IN FLORIDA GOT HIMSELF IN THE NEWS FOR A $250,000 DONATION TO FLORIDA'S GOVERNOR RON DE SANTIS AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS THERE WAS A COVID VACCINATION SITE IN THE ENCLAVE THAT RAUNER LIVES IN IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.

RICK PEARSON IS THERE EVIDENCE OF IMPROPRIETY HERE?

>> NO, IT ISN'T.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THE FORMER GOVERNOR GOT A VACCINATION THERE, THOUGH.

HE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR ONE.

HE TURNED 65.

THIS IS PART OF A MIAMI HERALD STORY THAT LOOKED AT RON DE SANTIS' FUNDRAISING IN COMPARISON HOW CERTAIN WEALTHY ESPECIALLY CLAVES IN FLORIDA ENCLAVES IN FLORIDA DONORS GAVE MILLIONS TO HIS CAMPAIGN FUND.

AND SO YOU HAD THIS EXCLUSIVE AREA WHERE FORMER GOVERNOR RAUNER BASICALLY LIVES NOW.

AND THEY'VE GOT THE VACCINE IN JANUARY AT A TIME WHEN VACCINES WERE VERY HARD TO GET.

>> RICK, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT STATE OR FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN FLORIDA MIGHT LOOK INTO ALL OF THOSE CONNECTIONS THERE?

>> WELL, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF QUOTE QUID PRO QUO BUT CERTAINLY WHEN YOU GET THIS VACCINE AND THEN AFTER IT'S GONE TO THIS ENCLAVE AND THEN YOU HAVE [INAUDIBLE] 150,000 CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TO DE SANTIS IT RAISES VERY INTERESTING OPTICS.

>> IT MAKES YOU ASK QUESTIONS.

I SPENT A NUMBER OF YEARS LIVING NOT THERE BUT IN AN AREA CLOSE TO THERE.

VERY FAMILIAR WITH -- CLEARLY NOT THERE.

I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE OVEN REEF CLUB THAT COMMUNITY THEY HAVE SO MANY CONNECTIONS THAT BRUCE RAUNER WOULD NOT BE THE ONLY CONNECTION THEY HAVE TO THE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA.

THERE ARE WEALTHY AND WEALTHY IT'S UBER WEALTHY THAT AREA.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS WITH THAT STORY.

WE DON'T KNOW HAS HE BEEN VACCINATED?

AND IF HE HAS WAS IT THERE?

THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT THE FOLKS IN FLORIDA WILL HAVE AS MORE INFORMATION COMES OUT ABOUT IT.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 2022 ELECTION AND ANOTHER PERSON HAS THROWN THEIR HAT IN THE RING FOR TREASURER.

ILLINOIS TREASURER.

JOINING SOMEONE LIKE A DOZEN CANDIDATES.

CRAIG DELLIMORE WHY IS THERE SUCH INTENSE INTEREST IN THIS ONE JOB?

AND WE'RE TWO YEARS AWAY FROM AN ELECTION?

>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE?

>> SECRETARY OF STATE, FORMER TREASURER ALEXI GIANNI.

>> THAT IS THE CONFUSION.

>> RETIRING JESSE WHITE SECRETARY OF STATE WHY DOES EVERYONE WANT THIS JOB SO BAD?

>> YOU HAVE TO YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

THAT IS THE OFFICE THAT CONTROLS PROBABLY THE MOST EMPLOYEES OF ANY OTHER SINGLE OFFICE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

ACROSS THE STATE, YOU CAN'T -- MAYBE IT'S NOT EXACTLY A PATRONAGE ARMY BUT IT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S ALWAYS SUCH A PLUM AND ALSO IT'S GOING TO BE AN OPEN SEAT FINALLY.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER >> YES, BECAUSE IT WILL NOT BE JESSE WHITE.

YES, THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL FIGHT.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME FRONTRUNNERS.

MICHAEL HASTINGS FROM CONTINUALLY PARK THREW HIS HAT IN AND YOU HAVE ANNA VALENCIA.

YOU'VE GOT, WELL.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT A LIST OF SOME OF THE CANDIDATES.

IN THE PAST IT HAS BEEN A STEPPING STONE TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE GEORGE RYAN, JIM EDGAR.

LET'S TAKE IT LOCAL.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND DAVID BROWN ANNOUNCED SWEEPING CHANGES TO THE C.P.D.

SEARCH WARRANT POLICY AFTER OFFICERS WRONGLY RAIDED ANJANETTE YOUNG'S HOME.

>> WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS RIGHT AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE'S RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED.

>> IF MS. YOUNG WAS THE BIGGEST DRUG KINGPIN WE SHOULD HAVE TREATED HER WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

THAT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO EVERYONE.

>> SO NEW RULES EXTREATMENT LIMIT ON NO KNOCK WARRANTS HAVING A FEMALE OFFICER PRESENT FOR ANY SEARCH WARRANT.

BODY-CAMERAS AND HIGHER UPS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EXECUTE THESE WARRANTS.

LOURDES DUARTE DOES THIS FIX THE PROBLEM THAT LED TO THE BRONC OF THE RAID OF ANJANETTE YOUNG?

>> WE SURE HOPE SO.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HOPING THAT IS ENOUGH BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IN THE NEXT YEAR IF WE START TO SEE OTHER CHANGES BEING DONE WHAT SHE MADE CHANGES BACK IN JANUARY OF 2020 HOPING THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE WARRANTS AND NOW HERE WE GO ANOTHER SET OF CHANGES WITH THE FEMALE OFFICERS GOING IN, ALSO A DEPUTY CHIEF WOULD HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON THAT WARRANT INSTEAD OF JUST A LIEUTENANT.

WE'LL SEE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HOPING THAT.

BECAUSE BY DOING THAT, THAT IS HOW YOU BUILD TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE TRUST IS DESPERATELY NEEDED FROM THE COMMUNITY TO POLICE.

THEY ARE HOPING IT WORKS.

>> AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ACKNOWLEDGED SHE MIGHT HAVE LOST TRUST IN THE WAY THAT HER ADMINISTRATION HANDLED THE FALLOUT OF THIS.

EVEN THOUGH THIS DID HAPPEN BEFORE HER WATCH.

HEATHER CHERONE DOES THIS HELP HER POLITICALLY?

AMONG THE PROGRESSIVE ALDERMEN WHO HAVE BEEN OUTRAGED AND NOT HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HER?

>> IT DOESN'T HELP AT ALL.

BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL NOT NEARLY STRONG ENOUGH AND THAT IT CAME SEVERAL DAYS AFTER FIVE BLACK ALDER WOMEN BANDED TOGETHER TO PUT FORWARD A PROPOSAL HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD HANDLE SEARCH WARRANTS WHICH WAS TOUGHER.

ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE NO KNOCK WANTS, UNDER MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S PROPOSAL THEY WOULD BE BANNED UNLESS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD PROBABLE CAUSE WHEN THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE.

UNDER THE PROPOSAL FROM THE ALDER WOMAN THEY WOULD BE BANNED ENTIRELY.

DO THE ALDERMEN HAVE 26 VOTES TO PUSH THIS THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL OVER THE MAYOR'S OBJECTIONS?

THAT IS UNLIKELY.

AND WE HAVE TO WATCH THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING TEAM OVERSEEING THE REFORM OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AFTER THE LAQUAN McDONALD SCANDAL THEY WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY AND THE JUDGE WILL HAVE THE TIME SAY WHETHER THE REFORMS ARE ADEQUATE AND IT WILL BE UP TO THEM TO SAY WHETHER IT WILL BE ENOUGH AND THAT IS WHERE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WILL BE JUDGED ULTIMATELY.

>> C.P.D.

IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE PROCESS.

RICK PEARSON THERE IS A STORY THAT DID NOT GET A LOT OF TRACTION BUT IT RUNG MY BELL A LITTLE BIT.

MOODY'S THE RATINGS AGENCY SAID THAT ILLINOIS' PENSION CRISIS SURPRISE HAS BEEN BAD AND IT GOT WORSE OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THEY SAY ABOUT 19% MORE UNFUNDED LIABILITY NOW THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

AT WHAT POINT DOES THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAVE TO ADDRESS THE WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED FIVE PENSION SYSTEMS IN ILLINOIS?

>> THE MOODY'S REPORT BASICALLY MOODY'S DOES ITS CALCULATION ON AN OVERALL ASPECT VERSUS WHAT THE STATE REPORTS AS WHAT THE PENSION LIABILITY IS OF ROUGHLY 150 BILLION DOLLARS INSTEAD OF THE $300 BILLION THAT MOODY'S CITES.

WE ARE TALKING A LOT MONEY.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT THERE HAS TO BE PENSION REFORM, PENSION REFORM.

THAT WAS TRIED IN THE STATE AND THE UNANIMOUS ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT RULING SAID A PERSON WHEN THEY ARE HIRED IS ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM THE DAY THEY WERE HIRED.

AND THAT IS BASICALLY, THE ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION IS IRON CLAD ON THE YOU CAN'T DIMINISH OR IMPAIR PENSION BENEFITS.

>> THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE PEOPLE INCLUDING WRITERS AT THE OUTLET THAT YOU WORK FOR SAYING THERE SHOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ESPECIALLY IF THE GOVERNOR WANTS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON A GRADUATED INCOME TAX.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> OK YOU HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE PENSION BENEFITS.

CAN YOU ONLY CHANGE PENSION BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE GOING FORWARD YOU CANNOT REVERSE.

THERE IS THE CONTRACT CLAUSE OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION THAT IS INVOLVED HERE.

AND IT SAYS EXPLICITLY IN THE ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION THAT CONTRACTS THAT PENSIONS ARE A CONTRACT.

YOU CAN'T GO BACK AND REVERSE THE CONTRACT.

IF WE EVER TRIED THIS, WE WOULD BE IN LITIGATION FOR DECADES.

>> SO IT SOUNDS -- THE ONLY WAY OUT IS MORE REVENUE?

GO AHEAD, CRAIG?

>> AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER BECAUSE THIS IS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM LAWMAKERS DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT AND THANKS TO COVID AND THANKS TO ALL THE TURMOIL OF THE LAST YEAR, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH NOT TALKING ABOUT IT.

MAYBE THIS WILL BE THE TWO BY FOUR UPSIDE THE HEAD THAT MAY GET THEM TALKING ABOUT IT AGAIN.

>> WE HAD CHRIS WELCH MENTIONED ABOUT LET'S TRY A DO OVER OF THE GRADUATED RATE INCOME TAX AND DEDICATE THAT MONEY TO PENSIONS.

THE BOTTOM LINE AT THIS STAGE WITH THE LEGISLATURE'S HANDS TIED REVENUE IS THE ONLY SOLUTION WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT MORE THAN 25 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR IN THE ILLINOIS TAXPAYER SENDS TO SPRINGFIELD GOES FOR PENSION BENEFITS.

>> AND ILLINOIS IS GOING TO GETT AGET ASSUMING THE BILL PASSES ILLINOIS STANDS TO GET $7 BILLION.

LAWMAKERS SAY THAT CANNOT BE USED FOR PENSIONS BUT I WONDER IF YOU ARE AN ILLINOIS LAWMAKER YOU DO WANT TO USE SOME OF THAT TO PAY DOWN PENSIONS IT'S CLEAR THE ONLY WAY OUT IS REVENUE OR AT LEAST STRETCHING THAT PAYMENT PERIOD.

LET'S GO TO C.P.S.

LOURDES DUARTE, K-5 WENT BACK THIS WEEK.

THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS KEPT THEIR KIDS HOME.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT WHERE PARENTS ARE AT IN TERMS OF SENDING THEIR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL?

>> WELL, WE THINK THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS KEPT THEIR KIDS HOME OR MANY PARENTS KEPT THEIR KIDS HOME BUT WE DON'T HAVE A NUMBER.

WE DID A STORY A FEW DAYS AGO ON HOW C.P.S.

COULDN'T PROVIDE THE MATH OR THE NUMBERS THAT DETAILED HOW MANY KIDS ACTUALLY WERE IN ATTENDANCE THAT DAY.

AND IT TELLS YOU THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES AND PARENTS THAT WERE ON THE SIDE OF THE TEACHERS THAT THOUGHT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SCHOOL C.P.S.

SHOULD HAVE WAITED A LITTLE BIT LONGER BEFORE GETTING KIDS BACK IN CLASS AND THERE'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT OF A CONCERN FROM PARENTS WHO WANT TO SEE HOW THINGS GO A WEEK OR TWO AND WAIT IT OUT UNTIL THEY GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF HOW THINGS ARE WORKING WITHIN THE CLASSROOMS.

>> AND NEXT WEEK, HEATHER CHERONE, WE'RE EXPECTING KIDS IN 5-8 TO GO BACK AND NOW C.P.S.

SAYS THEY ARE NEGOTIATING WITH THE C.T.U.

ON A POSSIBLE RETURN FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING WELL BUT NOTHING GOES SMOOTHLY WHEN THE TWO PARTIES NEGOTIATE.

>> I THINK WE'RE CLOSE TO JUST RUNNING OUT OF TIME ON THAT ISSUE.

BECAUSE SCHOOL ENDS MID-JUNE.

WE'RE ALREADY BASICALLY AT MID-MARCH.

THAT IS JUST NOT A LOT OF TIME TO CREATE A WHOLE NEW CURRICULUM FOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

AND THE ISSUE WITH HIGH SCHOOLS IS, OF COURSE, THAT KIDS MOVE AROUND FROM CLASS TO CLASS EVERYDAY.

YOU CAN'T SORT OF GROUP THEM IN PODS LIKE THEY HAVE DONE WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND A LITTLE BIT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

IT'S JUST MAGNITUDE IS HARDER.

AND I THINK LOURDES DUARTE IS RIGHT PARENTS WANT TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE'VE SEEN INDOOR DINING AND INDOOR DRINKING EXPAND AND YOUNGER KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL I WILL BE WATCHING CAREFULLY BECAUSE IF THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE COMMUNITY SPREAD WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE NUMBERS IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PARENTS ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK ESPECIALLY BECAUSE KIDS AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE YET.

VERY FEW PARENTS HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE YET.

THERE IS A LOT UNKNOWN.

>> AND WE'RE CLOSE TO RUNNING OUT OF TIME ON THE SCHOOL YEAR BUT WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME FOR THE SHOW.

OUR THANKS TO CRAIG DELLIMORE, HEATHER CHERONE, LOURDES DUARTE AND RICK PEARSON.

AND THAT IS OUR HOE 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 "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" AND BLACK VOICES ARE OFF THIS WEEKEND FOR SPECIAL PLEDGE PROGRAMMING.

MEANWHILE YOU CAN JOIN US HERE MONDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. ALL NEXT WEEK.

AND THE FEDERALLY RUN MASS VACCINATION SITE AT THE UNITED CENTER OPENS TO PATIENTS AND THE LATEST ON C.P.S.

RETURNING TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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