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[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

>> AND THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE NEED TO ELECT... >> THE GOVERNOR'S PARTY HAS ITS DAY IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT THE STATE FAIR BUT DIVISION REINED.

>> IT RANGED FROM WEEKS TO MONTHS AND EVEN YEARS.

FOLLOWING OUR DEPARTURE.

>> REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN RODNEY DAVIS IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT AFGHANISTAN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

>> MASK MANDATE, BOOSTER SHOTS AND THE CASE SURGE WE TALK ABOUT THE LATEST COVID NEWS WITH AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR.

>> HOW A NEW COLLABORATIVE WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS AIMING TO FIND UNEMPLOYED CHICAGOAN A JOBE.

THE BIG -- JOB.

>> THE BIG SPENDING OF INDICTED ALDERPERSON CARRIE AUSTIN.

>> WE WILL NOT JUST BE SEEING STARS JUPITER IS AS CLOSE AS IT EVER GETS TO EARTH.

WE EXPLAIN WHY.

>> BLANK CANVAS WILL CREATE.

>> A LOCAL GELATIN ARTIST SHOWS US HER JIGGLY GARDEN OF DELIGHTFUL DESSERTS.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS ARE PREPARING TO LAY TO REST UP WITH OF THEIR OWN.

HUNDREDS POLICE OFFICERS LINED UP TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO 29-YEAR-OLD OFFICER ELLA FRENCH.

THE C.P.D.

VETERAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY LAST WEEK.

TWO MEN ARE FACING CHARGES.

VISITATION CONTINUES UNTIL 9:00 P.M. ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

FUNERAL SERVICES THEN ARE SCHEDULED AT THAT SAME PARISH TOMORROW MORNING.

>> SEVEN MEN AND FIVE WOMEN ARE HEARING THE CASE AGAINST DISGRACED R&B STAR R. KELLY IN A BROOKLYN COURTROOM TODAY.

A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR TOLD THE JURY THE RACKETEERING CASE IS NOT ABOUT A CELEBRITY WHO LIKES TO PARTY BUT A PREDATOR WHO RAN AN ENTERPRISE OF PEOPLE HELPING HIM TO FIND WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS FOR SEX.

IT WOULD BE A STRETCH TO BELIEVE HIS CLIENT ORCHESTRATED SUCH AN ELABORATE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE SAYS HIS ATTORNEY.

>> A NEW REPORT SAYS THE FEDERAL USED HEAVY HANDED CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS TO DELIBERATELY TARGET BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTORS DURING THE RECKONING OF LAST SUMMER.

THE REPORT COMES FROM THE NONPROFIT MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES WHOSE POLICY RESEARCH COORDINATOR INCLUDES AMYRA ANNA.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW YORK SCHOOL OF LAW IT ANALYZED 326 CRIMINAL CASES RELATED TO THE PROTESTS IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER AND FOUND 93% OF THE TIME EQUIVALENT STATE LEVEL CHARGES COULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BUT FEDERAL CHARGES OFTEN CARRY MORE SEVERE PUNISHMENTS.

AND TO FIND OUT WHAT THE GROUP IS CALLING FOR YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>> UP NEXT IT'S GOVERNOR'S DAY AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR AND OUR AMANDA VINICKY HAS A LIVE REPORT FROM SPRINGFIELD.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> IT IS AN ANNUAL TRADITION BACK AFTER A BREAK LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

POLITICAL RALLIES AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.

AND IT IS AN ANNUAL TRADITION FOR US TO HAVE AMANDA VINICKY JOIN US FROM THE STATE'S FAIR OUTSIDE SPRINGFIELD.

AMANDA, WHAT IS THE INTRIGUE?

DID YOU EAT DEEP FRIED OREOS OR TWINKIES?

>> NO DEEP FRIED OREOS OR TWINKIES IT IS A STAPLE AS ARE COWS, WERE PIGS, FUNNEL CAKES AND CORN DOGS AND YES, POLITICS.

IT IS THE STATE'S END OF SUMMER UNOFFICIAL KICKOFF TO CAMPAIGN SEASON.

THE ILLINOIS FATE FAIR AND THE POLITICAL RALLIES.

TYPICALLY THE FAIR IS HALF A YEAR AWAY FROM THE PRIMARIES BUT THIS YEAR THE CALENDAR IS A LITTLE OFF BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT DRAWN A NEW MAP FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THEY PASSED A LAW MOVING WHAT WOULD BE THE MARCH PRIMARY BACK UNTIL JUNE SO THERE'S MORE TIME WHICH MEANS THAT LAUREN UNDERWOOD DON'T KNOW THE DISTRICTS THEY WILL BE RUNNING IN AND DON'T KNOW THEIR POTENTIAL COMPETITION.

>> WHEN DEMOCRATS WIN, WHEN WE SUCCEED WE BRING CHANGE.

AND WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THAT AS THE GOAL EVEN IF WE DO NOT KNOW WHO IS RUNNING IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

THE WORK HAS TO START NOW.

2022 IS A MUST-WIN SCENARIO THERE IS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR FAILURE.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF THAT SORT OF MESSAGING TODAY.

REMEMBER YOU'RE ATTENDING THE EVENTS YOU ARE A TRIED AND TRUE DEMOCRAT AND I NOTICED THE MOST PEOPLE THE LOUDEST WHENEVER SOMEBODY TOOK JABS AT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

DURING HIS SPEECH, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ALSO STARTED OFF WITH CRITICISM OF HIS PREDECESSOR FORMER GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER BEFORE HE MOVED TO TALK ABOUT HIS HANDLING OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

>> AND WHO IS FIGHTING TO PROTECT THE LIVES AND THE LIVELIHOODS OF OUR FELLOW ILLINOISIANS DURING THIS DEADLY GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

OVER AND OVER IT'S DEMOCRATS THAT DELIVER FOR THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.

>> BUT THERE WAS A DISTRACTION FROM HIS RALLYING CRIES.

THE GOVERNOR SPOKE THIS AFTERNOON AT A PICNIC ON THE FAIRGROUNDS.

BUT HE SKIPPED THIS MORNING'S THE DEMOCRATS' MAIN EVENT AND THAT IS A BRUNCH THAT WAS ATTENDED BY A THOUSAND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS FROM AROUND THE STATE.

NOW, AT FIRST HIS CAMPAIGN HAD SAID HE WASN'T GOING TO BE IN ATTENDANCE BECAUSE OF COVID AND THE BRUNCH HELD INSIDE A HOTEL BALLROOM GOT MOVED OUTDOORS AND STILL THE GOVERNOR SKIPPED.

SEEMINGLY IT WAS A QUICK TRIP BACK AND FORTH TO CHICAGO.

HIS ONLY APPEARANCE WAS A PRERECORDED VIDEO.

ORGANIZERS DOWN-PLAYED THE GOVERNOR'S ABSENCE.

>> THIS IS WHY YOU WORK SO HARD TO ELECT DEMOCRATIC LEADERS.

WHATEVER YOU MAY READ IN THE PRESS, DEMOCRATS IN ILLINOIS ARE UNITED.

THERE'S TOO MUCH AT STAKE TO BE DIVIDED.

>> NOW, AS DID PRITZKER HIMSELF... >> THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO TRY TO WRITE THAT PEOPLE ARE BOYCOTTING OR NOT GOING TO SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO, THE TRUTH IS THAT WE'RE ALL VERY BUSY EVERYDAY I'VE HAD 10 EVENTS THAT I'VE HAD TO ATTEND WHETHER HERE IN THE STATE FAIR OR BACK UP IN CHICAGO.

I TRY TO GET TO EVERYTHING I CAN.

AND I SUPPORT EVERY DEMOCRAT THAT WAS AT THE IDCCA THIS MORNING.

>> BUT IT COMES AS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS ITSELF IS IN TRANSITION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONGTIME, FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN IS NO LONGER THE PARTY CHAIR.

HE SAID THAT CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY ELECTED THIS MARCH OVER PRITZKER'S PICK FOR THE JOB.

>> MAKE SURE THAT DEMOCRATS ARE IN THE HOUSE ON EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHO IS THE PRESIDENT IT'S WHO IS THE MAYOR, THE SENATOR WHO IS ON THE LIBRARY BOARD, THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT IS HOW THEY BUILD THE BENCH.

>> SPEAKING OF TRANSITION, IT'S NOT JUST WHO IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR BUT HOW THAT POSITION OPERATES BECAUSE OF FEDERAL CAMPAIGN LAWS, KELLY A CONGRESSWOMAN IS RESTRICTED IN PERFORMING WHAT IS THE MAIN JOB OF PARTY CHAIR FUNDRAISING.

AND SO AS A GET AROUND TOP DEMOCRATS CREATED A COMMITTEE THEY DID THIS YESTERDAY, IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO WORK COMPLETELY SEPARATELY FROM KELLY TO RAISE AND TO SPEND CONTRIBUTIONS.

KELLY IS FRAMING THIS AS A WAY TO MAKE THE PARTY MORE DIVERSE TO INCLUDE MORE VOICES AND POINTS OUT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS LIKE THE HEAD OF GEORGIA'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE DOING THE SAME THING.

>> I'M NOT THE FIRST PERSON IN CONGRESS TO BE IN THIS BUSINESS AND YOU CAN LOOK AT WILLIAMS AND WARNOCK.

AND GIVE US A CHANCE.

AND I SEE IT AS AN ASSET I DON'T SEE IT AS A VULNERABILITY WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE STAY AS BLUE AS WE ARE NOW.

>> NOW, SHE MENTIONED GEORGIA BECAUSE ONE OF THE PEACH STATE'S RISING DEMOCRATIC STARS THAT IS U.S.

SENATOR JON OSSOFF HEADLINED THE BRUNCH.

OSSOFF WON THE WILL BION IN JANUARY AND HELPED TO FLIP THE U.S. CONTROL OF THE SENATE TO DEMOCRATS.

>> NOW IS THE TIME TO PASS A NEW VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND A NEW CIVIL RIGHTS ACT TO MAKE REAL THE PROMISES OF EQUAL RIGHTS AND EQUAL JUSTICE.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BELIEVE IN ILLINOIS TO PUSH THIS COUNTRY TO HIGHER HEIGHTS.

>> NOW, DEMOCRATS WINNING STATE-WIDE IN GEORGIA MAY BE RELATIVELY UNCOMMON BUT IT IS NOT A RARITY IN ILLINOIS.

DEMOCRATS RULE THE ROOST HERE.

SOMEONE HAD REPLICAS OF A BASEBALL THAT EVIDENTLY WAS SIGNED IN 2018 BY MEMBERS OF WHAT THEY CALLED THE DREAM TEAM DEMOCRATS WHO SWEPT THAT YEAR'S STATE-WIDE RACES.

MOST OF THAT DREAM TEAM IS HOPING FOR A REPEAT IN THE 22 ELECTIONS.

BUT ONE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER WILL NOT BE ON NEXT YEAR'S BALLOT AND THAT IS SECRETARY OF STATE JESSE WHITE.

>> I HAD NO INTENTIONS OF WINNING THIS LAST TIME BUT I WAS IN A UNION HALL AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE UNION HALL DECIDED THEY SHOULD GET ME INVOLVED WITH THE DRAFT.

AS IT TURNED OUT, ALL THE UNIONS ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS GOT INVOLVED WITH THE DRAFT.

THEY FORCED ME TO RUN FOR REELECTION AND THIS TIME, GENTLEMEN IT WON'T WORK.

[LAUGHTER] >> WHITE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE 1998.

HIS VACATING HAS KICKED OFF THE MOST COMPETITIVE RACE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

YOU HAVE FOUR DEMOCRATS NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM THEM IN THE ORDER THEY SPOKE.

EACH HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE THEIR PITCH TO THE PARTY FAITHFUL.

>> I WILL BUILD ON THE LEGACY OF SERVICE ON HIS LEGACY OF SERVICE.

I MAKE THAT PROMISE TO YOU AND I MAKE THAT PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.

>> I'M RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE TO RESTORE TRUST IN OUR ABILITY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO RESTORE FAITH IN GOVERNMENT PUT FOLKS BACK TO WORK.

>> FOR ME AS I RUN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GIVING A SEAT AND A VOICE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER.

>> IT'S TIME FOR US TO CHOOSE THE PAST ON THE FUTURE.

TO ELECT THE FIRST WOMAN LATINA, MOM AND MILLENNIAL AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

>> NOW, WHILE THEY HAVE COMPETITION, THE CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF STATE DO HAVE A BENEFIT AND THAT IS THEY ARE ABLE TO GET STARTED EARLY WITH ENDORSEMENTS, FUNDRAISING AND MAKING SPEECHES HERE IN THE STATE FAIR AND THAT IS BECAUSE UNLIKE THE CANDIDATE FOR EVERY OTHER OFFICE FROM LEGISLATURE OR CONGRESS THEY ARE RUNNING STATE-WIDE SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE MAPS AND DISTRICTS WHICH ARE UNSETTLED.

WITH THAT LIVE FROM THE FAIRGROUNDS, RIGHT BY A FERRIS WHEEL.

PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

TOP DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY U.S.

PERSONNEL AND AFGHAN ALLIES ARE BEING EVACUATED FROM AFGHANISTAN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AS THE SENATE PASSED INFRASTRUCTURE BILL HEADS TO THE HOUSE.

AND ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS PREPARE TO REDRAW THE STATE'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS CONGRESSMAN RODNEY DAVIS A REPUBLICAN FROM DOWN STATE TAYLORVILLE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR BEING WITH US.

>> LET'S START WITH THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN.

THE DEFENSE OFFICIALS BRIEFED THE MEDIA SAYING THAT AMERICAN TROOPS WILL BE THERE AT THE KABUL AIRPORT EVACUATING AMERICAN PERSONNEL AND AFGHANSES.

WHAT IS THE LATEST THAT YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT THE SITUATION?

>> PARIS, THANKS AGAIN FOR HAVING ME ON.

IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

I'M HEARTBROKEN BY WHAT I'M SEEING IN AFGHANISTAN RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE GROUND IS NOT INDETECTIVE OF ANY PEACEFUL TRANSITION FOR AMERICANS TO GET TO KA HULL AIRPORT TO BE -- KABUL AIRPORT.

THE TALIBAN CONTROLS MORE PROVINCES THEY DID.

THIS IS A DEBACLE THAT WAS TERRIBLY EXECUTED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND FRANKLY, THE GOAL WAS TO GET 2500 TROOPS OUT.

AND WE NOW HAVE THOUSANDS MORE GOING IN JUST TO EVACUATE THE FIRST 2500 AND AMERICANS AND ALLIES WHO NEED TO GET TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

IT'S WRONG THE WRONG APPROACH.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WOULD BE REMEMBERED FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

>> AND SPEAKING OF HOW QUICKLY THE TALIBAN HAS OVERTAKEN MARK MILLLY TODAY SAYS THAT EVERYONE WAS TAKEN OFF GUARD HOW QUICK THE TALIBAN TOOK CONTROL.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> IT WAS NOTHING THAT I OR ANYONE ELSE SAW THAT INDICATED A COLLAPSE OF THIS ARMY AND THIS GOVERNMENT IN 11 DAYS.

>> CONGRESSMAN, IS THERE ANY INTELLIGENCE YOU HEARD THAT WOULD HAVE INDICATED THAT THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT WOULD COLLAPSE SO QUICKLY?

>> NO, I WAS NOT PRIVY TO INTELLIGENCE.

BUT IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR THIS FROM OUR TOP MILITARY BRASS AND I WOULD LIKE TO QUESTION THEM AND OUR MILITARY LEADERS AS TO WHY, WHY THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT REMOVING 2500 TROOPS AND GIVING THE TALIBAN A DEADLINE, AND THEN TAKING AWAY THE AIR COVER THAT WE'VE GIVEN TO THE AFGHAN MILITARY AS PART OF THEIR OVERALL SECURITY STRATEGY AWAY FROM THEM HOW DID THEY NOT THINK THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS IS A FRUSTRATING MOMENT THAT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST POLITICAL, STRATEGIC BLUNDDERS OF OUR MILITARY AND OF A PRESIDENT IN OUR LIFETIME.

>> PART OF THE EVACUATION PROCESS IS RESETTLING AFGHANS THAT ASSISTED THE U.S.

IN WAR THERE.

TENS OF THOUSANDS LOOKING FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA STATUS, REFUGEE STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT A SIZABLE NUMBER COMING TO ILLINOIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THESE ARE FOLKS THAT FOUGHT THE TALIBAN AND FOUGHT ALONGSIDE AMERICA TO GIVE THE AFGHAN PEOPLE FREEDOMS THAT THEY DIDN'T ENJOY IN THE LAST TALIBAN RULE.

AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ENJOY NOW IN THIS CURRENT TALIBAN RULE OF THEIR HOMELAND.

YOU GOT TO REMEMBER IT WASN'T TOO LONG AGO, LITTLE UNDER 20 YEARS AGO, THAT WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN COULDN'T ATTEND SCHOOL.

OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH OUR MILITARY AND NGO'S COMING FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND OUR ALLIES YOUNG WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME EDUCATED.

NOW THEY ARE GOING BACK TO THE DARK AGES THAT THE TALIBAN BRINGS.

>> IS THERE -- IS THERE ACTION CONGRESS SHOULD TAKE TO SPEED UP THE IMMIGRANT VISA PROCESS?

THESE THINGS CAN GET BOGGED DOWN IN THE WEEDS TO ASSIST IN GETTING AFGHANS HERE QUICKLY?

>> YES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS HOW DO YOU EXECUTE THAT ACTION?

AND RIGHT NOW, EXECUTING THOUGHT ACTIONS IS SOMETHING THAT IS DEPENDENT UPON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IF THEY FAIL AS MISERABLY AS GETTING THAT PROCESS PUT IN PLACE AND BRINGING THOSE BRAVE AFGHAN INTERPRETERS AND THEIR FAMILIES BACK TO THE UNITED STATES, THEN WHAT IS IT GOING TO MATTER?

WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH EXECUTION FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

AND I'M TERRIBLELY, TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN AFGHANISTAN AND I WILL EVERYTHING I CAN TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER TO HELP OUR ALLIES.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO DOMESTIC POLITICS.

IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER AGO GIVEN THE NEWS BUT THE $1 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSED THE SENATE ON A BIPARTISAN VOTE AND INCLUDING FUNDING FOR ROADS, BRIDGES, MASS TRANSIT, REPLACING LEAD WATERLINES.

DOES IT LOOK LIKE A BILL YOU WOULD SUPPORT?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PROVISIONS IN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE THAT WAS NEGOTIATED IN A BIPARTISAN WAY BY OUR SENATORS THAT I'VE SUPPORTED IN THE PAST.

AND I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THOUGH, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO VOTE ON A STAND ALONE BILL.

SPEAKER PELOSI SAID SHE WILL NOT HAVE A VOTE UNLESS IT'S COUPLED WITH THE $3.5 TRILLION LIBERAL WISH LIST PACKAGE THAT THEY WILL RUN THROUGH RECONCILIATION AND IN THAT 3.5 TRILLION ARE TAX AND FEE INCREASES OFFER EVERY AMERICAN THAT WOULD DESTROY OUR AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY AND ENERGY ECONOMY HERE IN ILLINOIS.

AND GREEN NEW DEAL POLICIES THAT WOULD DO THE SAME.

>> YOU ARE SAYING IT'S CONTINGENT WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE OTHER BILL AND WHAT DEMOCRATS CHOOSE TO DO WITH BOTH BILLS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CENSUS NUMBERS THAT CAME OUT SHOWING .01% DECLINE OF POPULATION IN ILLINOIS.

GOING TO LOSE A SEAT IN CONGRESS.

THE CHICAGO AREA THE CITY GAINING MODESTLY BUT DOWN STATE LOSING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF POPULATION.

WHY IS THAT HAPPENING IN ILLINOIS ESPECIALLY DOWN STATE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS ILLINOIS OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT HAVE LOST A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

THERE MAY BE POPULATION GAIN IN THE CITY IT'S INDICATIVE WE SHOULD BE BEEN GROWING MORE.

WITH THE STATE WITH THE POTENTIAL WE HAVE TO BRING IN SILICON VALLEY INVESTMENTS WE OUGHT TO BE DOING MORE TO MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN HERE TO BRING PEOPLE TO ILLINOIS.

IT IS A FAILED POLICIES OF THE DEMOCRATS THAT HAVE RUN SPRINGFIELD FOR DECADES THAT ARE CAUSING ILLINOISIANS TO LEAVE THE STATE AND ESPECIALLY DOWN STATE.

THEY ARE LEAVING TO GO TO LOWER TAX STATES AND STATES WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR BETTER JOBS.

>> AND THESE SOUND LIKE ISSUES THAT A GOVERNOR DEALS WITH EVERYDAY.

YOU'VE MADE NO BONES ABOUT YOUR INTEREST IN POTENTIALLY SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR.

DO YOU PLAN TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS IN 2022?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

I WILL BE CONSISTENT LIKE I ALWAYS HAVE AND EVERYONE THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS ME FOR MY CONSISTENCY.

I'VE SAID ALL ALONG MY POLITICAL FUTURE DEPENDS UPON THE DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES IN SPRINGFIELD AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO KEEP HIS PROMISE OF NOT SIGNING ANOTHER LEGISLATIVELY DRAWN GERRYMANDERED POLITICAL MAP THAT IS GOING TO BE COMING OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATE HOUSE.

>> AND THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR DISTRICT.

YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING GOVERNOR IS CONTINGENT ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A CHANCE OF KEEPING YOUR SEAT IN CONGRESS BASED ON WHAT THE MAPS TURNOUT TO BE?

>> I'VE SAID ALL ALONG MY FIRST PREFERENCE IS TO GO BACK TO THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN CONGRESS EVENTUALLY RUN TO BE CHAIRMAN OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE I CAN WORK WITH MY REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES TO BRING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS TO ILLINOIS.

BUT MY POLITICAL FUTURE IS NOT GOING TO BE BASED UPON WHAT I DECIDE.

IT WILL BE BASED ON THE CORRUPT DEMOCRATS IN SPRINGFIELD WHO ARE GOING TO JERRY MANNEDDER A -- GERRYMANDER THE MAP AND COMPLAIN ABOUT REPUBLICANS DOING THE SAME IN OTHER STATES.

>> YOU ARE SAYING THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT GERRYMANDERING, WOULD AFFECT YOUR DISTRICT AND MAKING TOUGHER FOR YOU TO RUN IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> IT IS NOT A QUESTION I CAN ANSWER.

IT IS A QUESTION YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK SENATOR DURBIN AND GOVERNOR PRITZKER AND THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN ILLINOIS WHO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE PROCESS.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

WHAT IS YOUR TIME-FRAME IN DECIDING?

BASED ON WHEN THE MAPS COME OUT AND THEN YOU WILL DECIDE WHETHER YOU RUN FOR GOVERNOR?

>> WELL, I WILL DECIDE WHAT MY FUTURE HOLDS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY BASED UPON THE POLITICAL BATTLEFIELD THAT THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL AND WHEN THEY RELEASE IT I WILL MAKE MY DECISIONS.

>> I'M SURE YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO REPUBLICAN DAY TOMORROW AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR AND THE FOOD OFFERINGS THEY HAVE TO OFFER IN SPRINGFIELD.

THANKS TO CONGRESSMAN RODNEY DAVIS THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

>> THE MASKS ARE BACK FRIDAY REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS.

CHICAGO IS IMPLEMENTED AN INDOOR MASK REQUIREMENT FOR PLACES LIKE RESTAURANTS, BARS AND GYMS.

THIS AS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES A COVID BOOSTER SHOT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR AMERICANS STARTING IN SEPTEMBER WITH NURSING HOME RESIDENTS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND EMERGENCY WORKERS AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE.

>> THIS WILL BOOST YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE.

IT WILL INCREASE YOUR PROTECTION FROM COVID-19 AND THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM NEW VARIANTS THAT COULD ARISE.

>> AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE IS Dr. ROBERT MURPHY AT NORTHWESTERN'S FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

FRIDAY MASKS ARE BACK INDOORS AS THE CITY IS SEEING 400 CASES PER DAY OR MORE.

CAN A MASK MANDATE WORK TO HALT THE SPREAD IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOCIAL DISTANCING OR SHUTDOWNS?

>> THE MASK WORK.

SOCIAL DISTANCING WORKS.

IT ALL WORKS.

THE VACCINE WORKS.

AND YOU PUT THEM ALTOGETHER AND YOU CAN CONTROL THIS PANDEMIC.

WE'VE DONE IT MULTIPLE TIMES.

>> AND GIVEN THAT, I'M HEARING ANECDOTALLY ABOUT A BREAKTHROUGH CASE EVERYDAY.

WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY ABOUT THE RATE OF BREAKTHROUGH AMONG THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED?

>> THE PROBLEM IS THE BREAKTHROUGH RATE IS GOING UP.

AND IT WAS QUITE CLEAR FROM THE DISCUSSION THIS MORNING WITH Dr. FAUCI, Dr. WHAT LEN SKY, AND THE SURGEON GENERAL.

THE PROTECTION FROM THE VACCINE STARTS TO GO DOWN SOMEWHERE AFTER SIX MONTHS AND EIGHT MONTHS IT'S CLEAR THAT THE VACCINE IS NOT WORKING AS WELL.

HENCE WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU JUST PLAYED, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO START ALLOWING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED EIGHT MONTHS AGO TO GET THE BOOSTER SHOT.

>> AND THAT STARTS SEPTEMBER 20.

WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A BOOSTER SHOT?

>> WE KNOW THAT THE BOOSTER SHOT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO THE VIRUS.

SO BASED ON THESE MARKERS, IT SHOULD WORK VERY WELL.

>> DOES THAT MEAN, THOUGH, THAT SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS FROM GETTING THE BOOST EVER SHOT FOLKS MIGHT NEED TO GET ANOTHER BOOSTER SHOT AS THESE VACCINES LEVEL OFF OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE EIGHT MONTHS.

WE HAVE BOOSTER SHOTS FOR THE FLU ALTHOUGH THAT IS SEASONABLE AT ONE YEAR.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS.

BUT IT'S LOOKING LIKE WITH CORONAVIRUS THAT IT'S EIGHT MONTHS.

AND YOU WILL NEED ANOTHER SHOT.

>> SO PEOPLE ALREADY LINING UP TO GET THAT THIRD SHOT.

ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE CHILDREN UNDER 12 THAT HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY WHEN THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE VACCINATED AS CLASSES ARE RESUMING?

>> THE WHOLE THING IS BEING DRIVEN BY THE UNVACCINATED.

SO THEY HAVE THE ADULTS THAT DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

THEY ARE SPREADING IT.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT GROUP THEY ARE IN A LOT OF TROUBLE THAT IS WHO IS IN THE HOSPITAL TODAY.

FEW VACCINATED PEOPLE.

THERE IS A FEW BUT NOT TOO MANY.

THE SCHOOL KIDS ARE GOING TO BE SPREADING IT.

AND THAT IS GOING TO END SOON BECAUSE THE AGE 4-11 IS LIKELY TO GET APPROVAL SOMETIME IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

AND SO THEN THOSE KIDS THAT ARE IN SCHOOL CAN BE VACCINATED.

AND BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THERE MAYBE APPROVAL DOWN TO SIX MONTHS OF AGE.

ALMOST THE ENTIRE POPULATION CAN BE PROTECTED EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT TAKE THE VACCINE.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THAT WITH HOSPITALIZATIONS, THAT IS ONE OF THE METRICS LOCALLY THAT IS NOT QUITE AS CONCERNING.

THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE GOING UP AS FAST AS CASES ARE GOING UP.

AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN TEXAS AND FLORIDA AND THE SOUTHEAST WHERE A LOT OF THOSE STATES ARE FACING CRISIS SITUATIONS WITH THE HOSPITALS IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE RATE OF VACCINATION SO THEY ARE GETTING SICKER?

>> I THINK WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS THE BEGINNING OF HERD IMMUNITY.

YOU CAN STILL GET INFECTED BUT YOU DON'T GET SEVERE DISEASE.

YOU DON'T END UP IN THE HOSPITAL AND YOU DON'T DIE.

THESE VACCINES WORK.

IF YOU NEED A BOOSTER IN EIGHT MONTHS, SO WHAT, GET THE BOOSTER.

YOU MAYBE SUPER PROTECTED AT THAT TIME.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE BOOSTERS COME OUT.

BUT IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED AND THESE STATES THAT HAVE THE LOW VACCINE RATES, THEIR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS ARE IMPLODING.

THEY HAVE TENTS OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITALS IN HOUSTON.

AND ELSEWHERE.

ICU BEDS ARE ALMOST NON-EXISTENT IN MANY PLACES.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IF THE POPULATION DOESN'T GET VACCINATED.

>> AND A LOT OF THE STATES YOU SEE THE LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNORS BANNING MASK MANDATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHICH CLEARLY PROBABLY EXACERBATES THE SPREAD.

YOU SAW CHICAGO OFFICIALS HERE SAY LOLLAPALOOZA WAS NOT A SUPER SPREADER EVENT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ALMOST UNIVERSALLY WORRIED THAT IT COULD BE.

IS THAT WHAT THE DATA IS SHOWING YOU THAT THERE WASN'T A MASSIVE BUMP FROM HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BEING IN GRANT PARK TOGETHER?

>> 400,000 PEOPLE GRANTED THEY WERE OUTSIDE AND YOUNGER.

THE REPORTING IS NOT PERFECT, BUT, HEY, THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

THEY ARE NOT DYING.

AND WE SHOULD HAVE SEEN BIG INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CASES, THE PERCENT POSITIVE AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL ALREADY.

AND WE ARE NOT SEEING IT.

I THINK THINK OF THEY DID A SMART THING.

AT THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY WERE MARKETING THE TICKET EVERYBODY HAD TO BE VACCINATED.

SO THEY SELECTED PEOPLE WHO WERE WILLING TO BE VACCINATED OR GET TESTED BEFORE THEY COME AND SUPPOSEDLY 12% FIT THAT CATEGORY.

GRANTED SOME PEOPLE SAID THEY WALKED IN WITHOUT SHOWING.

>> MARGIN FOR ERROR.

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE ERROR.

BUT LET'S FACE IT THE HOSPITALS ARE NOT FULL OF THOSE PEOPLE.

>> ANOTHER SIGN POTENTIAL HERD IMMUNITY DEVELOPING HERE IN CHICAGO AND IN ILLINOIS?

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

AND THE STATES THAT HAVE VACCINATION RATES AS GOOD AS OURS.

>> AND GIVEN THAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAID THE OTHER DAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO LIVE WITH COVID FOR A LONGTIME COMING.

ESPECIALLY GIVEN WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN SOME OF THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEASTERN STATES.

DOES THAT MEAN NEW VARIANTS THAT COULD BE VACCINE RESISTANT AND WHAT TIME-FRAME?

MONTHS?

YEARS?

>> UNTIL YOU CONTROL THIS PANDEMIC YOU WILL HAVE NEW VARIANTS.

WE HAVE DELTA PLUS.

AND WE'RE HAVE DELTA PLUS, PLUS AND YET ANOTHER VARIANT.

AND MAYBE THE NEXT ONE IS NOT GOING TO BE AS GOOD -- IS GOING TO BE THE VACCINES ARE NOT GOING TO BE AS GOOD AGAINST THAT IS THE RISK.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO GET THESE INFECTION RATES DOWN THAT WILL SLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VARIANTS.

>> AND METRICS THAT OFFICIALS LOOK ON IS POSITIVE MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS PERHAPS TO THE RISING CASES.

Dr. MURPHY YOU ARE ALWAYS SO CLEAR WITH US.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> UP NEXT, HOW TO CATCH JUPITER IN THE SKY THIS WEEK.

SO STICK AROUND.

>> YOU MIGHT NEED TO PULL OUT YOUR SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT BECAUSE THERE ARE BRIGHT STARS IN THE SKY THIS WEEK.

EXCEPT THEY ARE NOT STARS.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WETLI JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN.

HEY, PATTY, SO WHAT ARE THE NON-STARS WE WILL SEE IN THE SKY OVER THE NEXT FEW NIGHTS?

>> THEY ARE PLANETS.

JUPITER IS UP THERE AND IT IS ALMOST AS BRIGHT AS THE MOON AFTER VENUS AND THE MOON JUPITER IS THE BRIGHTEST THING IN THE SKY AND IT'S GOING TO APPEAR BRIGHTER AND BIGGER THAN USUAL BECAUSE IT'S CLOSER TO THE EARTH THAN IT NORMALLY IS.

>> THAT IS WHY WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE JUPITER MORE SO THAN OTHER NIGHTS?

>> YES, IT'S COMING INTO OPPOSITION WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY IN EARTH'S SIDE OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM DIRECTLY OPPOSITE THE SUN.

SO IT'S JUPITER AND THE EARTH SITTING BETWEEN JUPITER AND THE SUN AND CLOSER THAN IT NORMALLY IS SO IT LOOKS BIGGER.

>> THE PLANETS ARE ALIGNING.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT?

>> SO, JUPITER WILL BEGIN RISING SHORTLY AFTER DUSK MIDNIGHTEST ON THURSDAY.

ANYTIME SUNSET TO SUNRISE.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT.

AND I PROMISE I KNOW WE SAY A LOT OF THESE EVENTS FOLKS IN THE CITY WILL HAVE A HARD TIME BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CASES WHERE IF YOU CAN SEE THE MOON, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE JUPITER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE VENUS AT THE SAME TIME?

>> YES.

THEY ARE LIKE A TEETER-TOTTER.

JUPITER IS GOING UP AS VENUS IS GOING DOWN SHORTLY AFTER DUSK.

IF YOU CAN SEE THE HORIZON TO THE EAST AND WEST, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO CATCH BOTH OF THEM ONE IS GOING DOWN AND THE OTHER IS COMING UP.

>> INTERESTING I WILL GO OUTSIDE AND BE ON THE LOOKOUT AND TUNE IN ON WFMT.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE YOU WILL FIND DETAILS OF FREE EVENS TO CATCH THE ACTION IN THE SKY ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... A NEW COLLABORATIVE WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO'S AIMING TO FIND UNEMPLOYED CHICAGOANS A JOB.

WE HEAR FROM ONE OF THE PROGRAM'S LEADERS.

>> ALL OF YOU WHEREVER DEMOCRATS HAVE PUT... >> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM BREAKS DOWN THE LATEST FROM GOVERNOR'S DAY AT THE STATE FAIR.

>> AND HAVE YOU HEARD OF GELATIN ART?

A LOCAL ARTIST SHOWS US HER JIGGLY GARDEN OF DESSERTS.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> VISITATION UNDERWAY FOR FALLEN CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER ELLA FRENCH.

MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM AROUND THE REGION HAVE BEEN PAYING RESPECTS SINCE MIDAFTERNOON TODAY.

THE 29-YEAR-OLD HAD BEEN ON THE FORCE FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS WHEN SHE WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY EARLIER THIS MONTH.

FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD TOMORROW MORNING AT ST. RITA SHRINE CHAPEL.

>> CHICAGO CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP SOP SAYING IT IS A CONSISTENT WITH CATHOLIC TEACHING TO GET THE COVID VACCINE.

A GROWING NUMBER OF PRIESTS HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM PARISHIONERS SEEKING A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FROM THE VACCINE.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF VACCINATION AND WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE TO BE VACCINATED ONE IT'S A LOVE FOR YOUR OWN LIFE THE GIFT OF LIFE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU TO BE VACCINATED TO PRESERVE YOUR OWN LIFE.

AND THEN IT GOES BEYOND THAT INTO THE LOVE OF NEIGHBOR AND THE COMMON GOOD.

AND WE SEE VACCINATION AS A SIGN OF THAT CHARITY TOWARDS NEIGHBOR.

>> BISHOP BISHOP ROBERT CASEY DOES NOT HAVE A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FROM THE VACCINE AND ENCOURAGES PARISHIONERS TO RECEIVE IT.

>> A NEW COLLABORATIVE CALLED HIGHER CHICAGO IS AIMING TO FIND UNEMPLOYED CHICAGOANS A JOB.

THE CHICAGO AREA HAD AN 8.5% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOWN FROM JUNE OF 2020 WHEN THE REGION WAS AT 15.1%.

ALL THAT IS ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS COLLABORATIVE AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN CHICAGO IS KARIN NORINGTON-REAVES, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT THE CHICAGO COOK WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.

KARIN NORINGTON-REAVES WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> THANK YOU GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> AUGUST IS A BIG MONTH FOR HIRE CHICAGO.

TELL US WHAT HIRE CHICAGO IS.

>> AUGUST IS A BIG MONTH, INDEED.

HIRE CHICAGO IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF WORLD BUSINESS CHICAGO, THE CHICAGO COOK WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S OFFICE.

IT IS AIMED AT HELPING TO JUMP START OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK IN THE HIGH GROWTH HIGH DEMAND SECTORS THAT FUEL OUR ECONOMY.

>> AND KAREN WE HAVE HEARD STORIES FROM BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY THAT THEY ARE BEGGING PEOPLE TO COME BACK FOR JOBS.

HOW DO YOU CONNECT PEOPLE LOOKING FOR JOBS WITH THE JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW?

>> WE DEVELOPED A PLATFORM HIRE CHICAGO 2021.ORG.

AND WE HAVE BEEN PROMOTING THIS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE IT AS YOU MENTIONED.

IT WAS A FIVE-WEEK INITIATIVE.

WE HAVE MANY OF OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE REGION WHO ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE ON PRESCREENING, DOING INTERVIEWING, HELPING WITH RESUMES, AND SO THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF THE WEEK ARE FOCUSED ON THAT PRESCREENING EFFORT AND EXPOSURE TO WORKSHOPS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES AND THEN ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE ACTUAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EMPLOYERS.

>> AND AS WE MENTIONED THE CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 8.1%.

IT'S COME DOWN.

CAN YOU REACH ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND GET THEM WORK?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS WE HAVE IS A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY.

SO THROUGH THEM WE ARE ABLE TO MESSAGE ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

SO WE ARE SEND OUT E-MAILS TWICE A WEEK TO ALERT THEM TO THE PLATFORM AND TO THE WORK WE'RE DOING HERE.

YOU KNOW, THE OTHER PIECE IS THAT 8.1% IS REALLY NOT ACCURATE BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON SURVEY DATA.

IT DOESN'T MEASURE EVERYONE.

IF YOU ARE NOT COUNTED IN THE MEASURE IF YOU ARE NOT SOMEBODY WHO IS ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT, THEN YOU ARE NOT THAT MEASURE DOES NOT REFLECT YOU.

AND SO WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT ON THE GROUND IN OUR COMMUNITIES IF YOU ARE BLACK, IF YOU ARE BROWN, IF YOU ARE MALE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 20-24, THOSE NUMBERS ARE ACTUALLY GREATER IN THAT 8%.

>> AND DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU ARE TARGETING SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES OR DEMOGRAPHICS IN CHICAGO TO TRY AND REACH ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE TARGETING THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES AND THOSE ARE THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE, THOSE ARE THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HIT HARDEST BY COVID.

THOSE ARE THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE SEE THE GREATEST UNEMPLOYMENT AND WE ARE DEFINITELY TARGETING THEM WITH LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, TALK RADIO STATIONS.

WE ARE GOING OUT INTO COMMUNITY.

WE ARE LEVERAGING OUR VACCINE AMBASSADORS AS THEY ARE CANS VAING THE COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE AT EVERY MAJOR EVENT WE WERE AT LOLLAPALOOZA.

WE HAVE FOLKS AT SWAP-O-RAMA ON THE BLOCK EVENT THAT THE MAYOR IS HOSTING.

WE'RE EVERYWHERE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW.

WE HAVE 15,000 JOB VACANCIES POSTED WITH OUR SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

>> WE ALWAYS SEEM TO SEE THIS 15,000 VACANCIES IN THE SYSTEM HOW COME THE CITY OR THE REGION OR THE COUNTRY CANNOT MATCH THOSE UP WITH FOLKS THAT ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR JOBS RIGHT NOW?

>> SOME HAS TO DO WITH THE TYPES OF JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

AND I THINK THERE IS ALSO A BIG AWARENESS GAP THAT IS PART OF WHY IN SOME OF OUR PROGRAMMING WE ARE DOING THE WORKSHOPS EVERY WEEK BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE JOBS IN TRANSPORTATION DISTRIBUTION AND LOGISTICS.

PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A CLEAR AND ACCURATE SENSE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO WORK IN MANUFACTURING RIGHT NOW OR WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE IN A HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, WHAT ARE THE CAREER PATHS FORWARD.

WHAT ARE THE STARTING WAGES.

THAT IS PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE CAREERS SEEM ATTRACTIVE TO FOLKS.

THERE ARE SOME PHENOMENAL JOBS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE IN WEEK THREE OF HIRE CHICAGO THIS WEEK IS PDL BUT WE ARE ALSO GOING INTO HEALTHCARE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WHERE THERE ARE HIGHER STARTING AVERAGE WAGES.

AND WHERE THEY MIGHT BE A FEW REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN JUST A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE ROLES THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED WITH US REQUIRE LITTLE MORE THAN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND OFFER ON THE JOB TRAINING AS WELL AS SOLID BENEFITS AND GREAT WAGES.

>> AND THE INDUSTRIES THOSE ARE THE GROWTH INDUSTRIES HERE IN CHICAGO WHERE GOOD PAYING JOBS AND JOBS WITH HIGH POTENTIAL CEILINGS ARE.

AND AS YOU SAID THE REAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE MIGHT BE HIGHER THAN 8.1% IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY.

WHERE DO YOU SEE IT GOING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS OR A YEAR?

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE INDUSTRY.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT HOSPITALITY WAS HARDEST HIT HOSPITALITY FOOD SERVICE AND TOURISM WAS HARDEST HIT AND IT WILL BE THE LAST TO RECOVER.

WE KNOW THERE'S GREAT DEMAND AND NEED AND GREAT DEMAND AND NEED IN MANUFACTURING THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A DEMAND AND NEED IN HEALTHCARE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON RECOGNIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES THERE AND ALSO I THINK HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR GIFTS AND TALENTS AND CAPACITY ALIGN WITH WHERE THE DEMAND IS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A LOT OF IMPORTANT WORK HIRE CHICAGO ALL THIS MONTH AND BEYOND.

OUR THANKS TO KARIN NORINGTON-REAVES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PARIS.

>> POLITICALLY INTRIGUE AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR AS IT IS DEMOCRATS' DAY AND THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION IS AT AN IMPASSE WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL OVER COVID-19.

SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD ON THAT AND MORE THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT IN OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS AND HERE WITH THE ITEMS ARE AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER CHERONE.

>> AMANDA STILL WITHOUT A DEEP FRIED TWINKIE UNLESS YOU ARE HOLDING IT BELOW THE CAMERA.

LET'S START OUT WITH THE POLITICAL, THERE IS TRADITIONAL BREAKFAST AND ABSENCES THE GOVERNOR AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER IS THERE ANYTHING TO READ INTO ABOUT THAT?

>> THE HOUSE SPEAKER, MAYBE HE'S EVIDENTLY ON VACATION AND THAT HAPPENS ALTHOUGH THIS IS ALWAYS ON THE CALENDAR OTHER THAN LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE ENTIRE FAIR WAS CANCELED.

ALSO THE STATE SENATE PRESIDENT HARMON IS RECOVERING FROM A MILD CASE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

SURE, I MEAN THERE IS A LOT OF TALK YOU CANNOT IGNORE THAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WASN'T THERE WHEN THERE WERE AN ESTIMATED 1,000 DEMOCRATS.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

AND IT COMES AS THERE IS A LOT OF TALK OF THIS RIFT BECAUSE PRITZKER SUPPORTED CHICAGO ALDERWOMAN MICHELLE HARRIS OVER CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY.

AND YOU ARE HEADING INTO AN WILL BION CYCLE.

I THINK PERHAPS SHOWS SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR TRIED TO SAY, HEY YOU ARE MAKING A BIG DEAL OUT OF NOTHING.

I THINK IN PART WHAT IT SHOWS IS THAT HE'S CONFIDENT GRANTED IT IS A WAYS OUT FROM THE 2022 ELECTION CYCLE BUT HE IS CONFIDENT ABOUT HIS CHANCES.

>> AND THE OFFICIAL PARTY APPARATUS IS NOT GOING TO NOT SUPPORT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER IN REELECTION.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE INDOORS COVID THAT MIGHT BE A CONSIDERATION, TOO.

THE GOVERNOR DID SHOW UP LATER AND HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY TO HYPE THE CROWD UP.

>> THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHEREVER DEMOCRATS PUT UP A STRONG FIGHT WE WIN.

IN 2018, WE WON THE LARGEST VICTORY OVER AN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR IN A CENTURY.

WE WON DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF EVERY STATE-WIDE SEAT IN ILLINOIS.

>> THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR ESPECIALLY IN ELECTION YEARS THE KICKOFF THE CAMPAIGN SEASON.

IS THAT THE POINT HERE TO JIN PEOPLE UP AND GET PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT DONATING?

>> ABSOLUTELY ALTHOUGH IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE DELAY IN THE CENSUS FIGURES.

TYPICALLY THE PRIMARY WOULD BE IN MARCH.

IT'S GOING TO BE IN JUNE OF 2022 WHICH MEANS THERE'S MORE TIME FOR POLITICAL INTRIGUE AND BACK AND FORTH.

MOST OF THE FOCUS IS GOING TO BE ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE.

THERE ARE FOUR CANDIDATES ALL OF WHOM WERE FRONT AND CENTER TODAY AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.

JOCKEYING FOR POSITION TALKING TO REPORTERS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY THE MARQUEE RACE UNTIL WE KNOW WHO THE REPUBLICANS WILL NOMINATE FOR GOVERNOR AND THEN ALL EYES WILL BE ON THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

>> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE MAPS AND THE CENSUS BECAUSE WE HAD ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN RODNEY DAVIS ON A LITTLE BIT AGO SAYING THAT IF THE DEMOCRATS INDEED DRAW NEW MAPS AND THOSE MAPS MAKE IT TOUGH FOR HIM TO RUN FOR REELECTION HE WILL THINK ABOUT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

AMANDA, DO YOU HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT WHETHER THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE?

>> WELL, THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THESE MAPS AND IN FACT WE KNOW THAT HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN SURVEYED AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COME TO SPRINGFIELD THE WEEK BEFORE LABOR DAY AND THAT WOULD BE OS TENSIBLY TO -- OS TENABLELY TO VOTE ON AN ENERGY PACKAGE BUT YES THE MAPS.

THE CENSUS DATA IS FRESH AND PRESUMABLY THE MAP MAKERS ARE WILL FOOLING AROUND ON THE COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND LIKELY GOING IN THEY HAD SOME NOTION OF WHAT THE CENSUS FIGURES WERE GOING TO BE.

YES, THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHO THEY MAY WANT TO RUN AGAINST J.B. PRITZKER FOR GOVERNOR KNOWING THAT RODNEY DAVIS IS SOMEBODY WHO IS OFTEN MENTIONED AND HE HAS NOT SAID NO.

WILL THEY MAKE IT PARTICULARLY EASY FOR HIM TO WIN AGAIN GIVING HIM A PASS AT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE?

OR WILL THEY MAKE THIS A RACE WHERE HE IS GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH GO OF IT AND A HARD TIME MAKING IT BACK TO WASHINGTON IN WHICH HE MIGHT GIVE SPRINGFIELD OVER WASHINGTON A BIGGER CONSIDERATION.

>> WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS INTERESTING BUT THE SPINNING DOGS LOOK LIKE FUN.

AND I WANT TO STICK HERE BECAUSE SENATOR DURBIN SAID SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE GIVEN A CLUE WHAT THE MAPS WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHETHER OR NOT RODNEY DAVIS IS GOING TO BE MAPPED OUT WHEN HE SAID HE MIGHT ENDORSE A CERTAIN PERSON TO RUN AGAINST RODNEY DAVIS.

EXPLAIN THAT.

>> THAT'S NIKKI BUDZINSKI.

AND I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY SENATOR DURBIN WOULD HAVE LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG ON AT THAT TIME ONE.

WE KNOW THAT SHE LEFT A HIGH PROFILE UP THERE POSITION WITH THE WHITE HOUSE.

SHE WAS IN BIDEN'S FINANCE OFFICE AND PRIOR TO THAT HAD BEEN SERVING WITH THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION.

NIKKI BUDZINSKI IS WELL THOUGHT OF, HIGH REGARDED AND BOTH DEMOCRATS IN DC CIRCLES AND HERE IN SPRINGFIELD.

BUT IF THEY WERE FLOATING HER AT ALL AND SHE WAS HOPING TO MAKE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WAY, THEN, THIS CERTAINLY DISRUPTS THAT.

I DON'T QUITE KNOW HOW TO GAUGE WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN FOR RODNEY DAVIS.

AGAIN, OTHER THAN THAT SHE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS RESPECTED CERTAINLY HAS A LOT OF TIES AND CONNECTIONS AND WOULD SEEMINGLY TO DO WELL FUNDRAISING.

THEN AGAIN, TIES TO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HE IS NOT THE MOST POPULAR IN DOWN STATE AREAS WHERE WHAT HE BRINGS HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE CORONAVIRUS IS NOT ALWAYS VERY WELL TAKEN I THINK THERE ARE POCKETS OF THAT DISTRICT WHERE THOSE PRITZKER SUCKS SIGNS ARE MORE PREVALENT.

>> CONGRESSMAN DAVIS HOT THAT IT WAS A SIGN THAT THE DURBIN FLOATED THAT PERSON'S NAME TO POTENTIALLY RUN AGAINST DAVIS WHICH COULD GO DAVIS TO THEN RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

HEATHER LET'S MOVE TO THE CITY.

YOU HAD A GREAT STORY THIS WEEK ABOUT ALDERPERSON CARRIE AUSTIN.

AND THE COMMITTEE THAT SHE CHAIRS SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY BUT NOT REALLY DOING MUCH.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, HER COMMITTEE THE CONTRACTING, OVERSIGHT AND EQUITY ONLY MET THREE TIMES IN 2020 BUT MANAGED TO SPEND $200,000 WHILE NOT MEETING AND DOING MUCH OF ANYTHING IN TERMS OF SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATION.

HER COMMITTEE HATS NOT MET AT ALL THIS YEAR IN 2021.

AND ABOUT 24 HOURS AFTER OUR STORY PUBLISHED SHE SCHEDULED A HEARING THE FIRST ONE THIS ENTIRE CALENDAR YEAR AND WHAT SHE IS GOING TO DO IS HOLD A SUBJECT MATTER HEARING NOT A VOTE BUT A HEARING ON EFFORTS TO EXTEND THE CITY'S CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS SET ASIDE PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO INSURE THAT FIRMS OWNED BY BLACK CHICAGOANS, LATINO CHICAGOANS, ERICKIAN CHICAGOANS AND WOMEN GET THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE CITY'S CONTRACTS.

IT IS A LEGALLY DIFFICULT PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL OF THE T'S CROSSED AND THE I'S DOTTED.

I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A QUESTION ANSWERED FROM MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ABOUT WHY ALDERMAN AUSTIN STILL HAS THIS CHAIRMANSHIP AS SHE FACES AN INDICTMENT ON FOUR FEDERAL CHARGES OF BRIBERY AND LYING TO THE F.B.I.

>> RIGHT.

BECAUSE ALDERMAN ED BURKE LOST HIS COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP WHEN THE NEWS BROKE HE WAS INDICTED BY THE FEDS.

HEATHER, THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION SAYS NO DEAL RIGHT NOW ON A RETURN TO CLASS IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

BECAUSE OF THE COVID SITUATION ARE WE GOING TO SEE SOME KIND OF PROTRACTED BATTLE HERE AND ARE KIDS GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT STAYING HOME?

>> I THINK IT'S LIKELY THAT SCHOOL WILL START AS SCHEDULED ON AUGUST 30TH.

A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS REMAIN OVER WHEN EXACTLY STUDENTS WHO ARE EXPOSED TO SOMEBODY WHO IS COVID POSITIVE WHEN THEY WILL HAVE TO QUARANTINE, HOW LONG THEY WILL HAVE TO QUARANTINE AND WHAT SORT OF REMOTE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM WILL BE SETUP TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE KIDS DO NOT FALL BEHIND.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE ONES WHO AREN'T SICK BUT HAVE TO ISOLATE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND IT COMES THE START OF SCHOOL COMES AS THE CITY IS SEEING A SIGNIFICANT AND SUSTAINED SURGE OF SPREAD OF COVID THANKS TO THE DELTA VARIANT.

STARTING FRIDAY, EVERYONE IN CHICAGO WILL HAVE TO WEAR A MASK INDOORS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE VACCINATED OR NOT.

AND THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A MIXED MESSAGE THE CITY IS SENDING SAYING HEY, YOU GOT TO WEAR MASKS BECAUSE COVID IS SPREADING SO FAST BUT ALSO IT'S SAFE TO SEND YOUR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL EVEN WHEN STUDENTS YOUNGER THAN 12 CANNOT BE VACCINATED.

SO THE TEACHERS' UNION HAS QUESTIONS.

>> AND AS Dr. MURPHY SAID IN THE PROGRAM THAT VACCINATION FOR KIDS 12 AND UNDER MIGHT BE COMING SOON.

>> AMANDA LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.

MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION HOW DID THE BUTTER COW LOOK DOWN THERE?

>> I HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET.

I HAVE NOT GOTTEN GREAT FAIR FOOD AND HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO STOP BY THE BUTTER COW BUT THERE IS A I LOVE 90s CONCERT AND MASKS OR COVID TESTS REQUIRED IN CERTAIN AREAS AND THAT IS FEATURING VANILLA ICE, SO THERE YOU GO THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN SPRINGFIELD TONIGHT AND FOLKS GOING ON THE SLIDE.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO RUSH OVER TO THE GRANDSTAND FOR THE CONCERT WHEN WE ARE DONE HERE?

>> WE'LL SEE.

I HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO FINISH UP AND I WILL TALK ABOUT FRIED OREOS.

>> ALL THIS WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK.

AND WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW TALKING ABOUT REPUBLICAN DAY.

THANKS TO HEATHER CHERONE AND AMANDA VINICKY.

AND UP NEXT, A SHOWCASE OF GELATIN ART.

JUST TALKED ABOUT THE BUTTER COW NOW THE GELATIN ART.

FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... [♪♪♪] ALL ACROSS THE CITY GARDENS EXEMPLOYEDING WITH BRILLIANT COLOR AND SUMMERTIME IS FLEETING IN CHICAGO AS WE KNOW, A SOUTH SIDE GELATIN ARTIST YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT, CAPTURES THE FLORAL FANTASY YEAR-ROUND WITH A SWEET TWIST.

ERICA GUNDERSON SHARED HER STORY WITH US AND HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> THERE'S NO LIMIT TO WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH GELATIN LIKE THE CLEAR GELATIN IS YOUR BLANK CANVAS.

>> THE GELATIN DESSERT FOR SOME IT IS A JIGGLY NOVELTY.

THE PROVINCE OF PROVINCE OF CHURCH POT LUCKS, IN MEXICAN CULTURE, THE GELATIN ANGELICA AGUILAR MAKES ARE NOT JUST A SWEET TREAT BUT AN ART FORM.

>> THE KOI FISH.

BIRDS.

FLOWERS.

BUTTERFLIES.

BEES.

ANYTHING THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND YOU CAN PUT IN THE GELATIN.

>> ANGELICA AGUILAR WAS BORN IN MEXICO BUT DIDN'T DEVELOP AN INTEREST IN MAKING GELATIN ART UNTIL SHE WAS IN CHICAGO.

>> I STARTED BACK IN SPRING OF 2008 WHEN MY DAD WAS A GENERAL CONTRACTOR BACK THEN.

HE WAS DOING A REHAB IN THE BACK OF THE YARDS AREA HERE IN CHICAGO.

AND THERE WAS VENDORS WALKING BY TELLING THIS GELATIN.

AND MY DAD BROUGHT SOME HOME.

AND WHEN HE SHOWED THEM TO ME I WAS TOTALLY MIND BLOWN.

>> THE GELATIN FLOWERS FASCINATED ANGELICA AGUILAR BUT THE VENDORS WERE NOT WILLING TO TEACH HER HOW TO MAKE THEM SO SHE STARTED POKING AROUND.

>> I WOULD SEE PICTURES OF GELATINS BUT THERE WAS NOT A REFERENCE ON THE RECIPES OR THE TOOLS THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO USE.

SO KNOWING JUST THE BASIC RECIPE OF GELATIN, I EXPERIMENTED AND POKED THE GELATIN AND SEEING WHAT WAS THE REACTION.

>> ANGELICA AGUILAR FINDS INSPIRATION OUTSIDE HER BACK DOOR.

>> I LOVE TO WALK AROUND MY GARDEN AND STARE AT THE FLOWERS.

I FOCUS ON THE SHAPE, THE FOLDS, THE DETAILS THAT EACH PETAL HAS.

>> IN ORDER TO RENDER EACH FLOWER'S UNIQUE FRILLS AND RUFFLES IN GELATIN AGUILAR HAND CRAFTED TOOLS.

>> THE WORD IS AN ITALIAN WORD FOR CHISEL AND IT WORKS BY MOLDING THE CUT INSIDE THE GELATIN AND THIS ARE AATTACHED TO A SYRINGE.

>> SHE MAKES CUSTOM GELATINS FOR WEDDINGS, AND BABY SHOWERS.

SHE ALSO TEACHES GELATIN ART CLASSES.

>> SHE GAVE ME A MINI LESSON IN HER KITCHEN.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MOVEMENT THAT YOU DO WITH THE NEEDLE.

>> WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BEST YOU CAN COVER UP THE UGLINESS ON THE UNDERSIDE.

>> NO ONE WILL KNOW.

>> THE RESULTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE WOBBLELY.

>> MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT THINGS HAVE BEEN WORSE BEFORE.

>> I DID FIND THE PROCESS VERY CALMING.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE FIND IT THERAPEUTIC AND THEY RELAX JUST BY POKING THE GELATIN AND THEY COME NOT KNOWING HOW TO DRAW AND A THEY CREATE SOMETHING REALISTIC.

>> AFTER ALL WHAT IS BETTER THAN ART YOU CAN EAT?

>> WE HAVE PROBLEMS IN LIFE BY MAKING FLOWERS YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE CONTROL AND YOU END UP WITH WILLING BEAUTIFUL AND DELICIOUS TO EAT.

FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> I DON'T THINK I WESTBOUND ABLE TO FINISH THE ART BEFORE I HAD TO EAT THE JELLO.

ANGELICA AGUILAR IS OFFERING CLASSES.

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

OUR THANKS TO PRODUCER ERICA GUNDERSON.

AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. ILLINOIS' REPUBLICANS MEET AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR FOR G.O.P.

DAY.

AND SITES AND SOUNDS FROM THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY ON THE CITY'S WEST SIDE AS PART OF OUR IN YOUR 234UR.

AND FOR -- "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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