[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."
I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.
I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.
ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE'RE ABSOLUTELY SEEING THE HIGHEST SURGE IN CASES FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC.
>> INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTORS SHARE THE LATEST ON OMICRON AMID THE RECENT COVID SURGE.
>> HEADACHES FOR HOLIDAY TRAVELERS AS THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS ARE CANCELED HOW THE INDUSTRY IS WEATHERING ANOTHER COVID SPIKE.
>> WE KNOW SOME STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS ARE COPING WITH THE PANDEMIC AND NEED TIME BEFORE RESUMING PAYMENTS.
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN EXTENDS A FREEZE ON FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS.
>> WELL, WE DIDN'T GET A WHITE CHRISTMAS BUT IS SNOW IN THIS WEEK'S FORECAST?
>> TO ENVISION MY FATHER BEFORE HE WAS A FATHER, GIVES HIM MORE DIMENSION.
>> A LOCAL WOMAN SEES A NEW IMAGE OF HIS FATHER THROUGH HIS LONG LOST STREET PHOTOGRAPHY.
>> IN THE STUDIO AND AT THE MUSEUM WITH ARTIST TONY FITZPATRICK AND ARTWORKS THAT BLEND NATURE WITH URBAN GRIT.
>> DAVID BROUGHT GEOFFREY -- GEOFFREY?
>> AND REMEMBERING LONG TIME DIRECTOR OF LINCOLN PARK ZOO Dr. LESTER FISHER WHO DIED LAST WEEK AT 100 YEARS OLD.
FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> COVID CASES IN ILLINOIS ARE STILL SURGING.
THE STATE RECORDS JUST UNDER 10,000 NEW COVID-19 CASES IN 17 DEATHS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.
AS THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE NOW STANDS AT 11.7%.
THE STATE IS AVERAGING 14500 NEW CASES PER DAY OVER THE LAST WEEK.
AND HAS SEEN A SPIKE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS WITH 14% ICU CAPACITY.
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND TOP HEALTH OFFICIAL DR. NGOZI EZIKE SAY THE SURGING OMICRON VARIANT HAS CAUSED THEM TO STEP UPSTATE EFFORTS TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.
>> TO GET MORE SHOTS IN ARMS WE ARE COORDINATING WITH LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, EXPANDING CAPACITY BY ASSISTING THEM WITH SURGE STAFFING.
TO HELP ADMINISTER THE VACCINATIONS.
>> MEANWHILE, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION ANNOUNCES A SHORTENED QUARANTINE PERIOD FOR THOSE THAT GET COVID.
THE C.D.C.
RECOMMENDS ANYONE WITH COVID TO ISOLATE FOR FIVE DAYS INSTEAD OF 10 BUT THAT IS IF THEY ARE DISPLAYING NO SYMPTOMS.
THE C.D.C.
THEN RECOMMENDS MASKING UP AROUND OTHER PEOPLE FOR FIVE DAYS AFTER THAT QUARANTINE PERIOD.
AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE CDC RECOMMENDATION CHANGE LATER IN THE PROGRAM.
>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE URGING STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF TO GET TESTED FOR COVID BEFORE COMING BACK TO CLASS FROM WINTER BREAK.
THE DISTRICT SENT A MESSAGE TO PARENTS ASKING STUDENTS TO TEST BEFORE RETURNING TO SCHOOL ON JANUARY 3.
C.P.S.
SAYS IT IS EXPANDING DROP-OFF LOCATIONS FOR COVID TEST KITS SENT OUT THIS MONTH.
FAMILIES ARE RETURN THE TEST KITS TO SIX PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCHES BETWEEN NOON AND 5:00 P.M.
TOMORROW, ENGLEWOOD, SOUTH SHORE, AUBURN GRESHAM AND THE SOUTHEAST SIDE, AUSTIN, AND ALTGELD GUARD AGAINS AND IT CAN BE RETURNED TO A FEDEX FACILITY.
AND THE CITY ANNOUNCES NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS AT NAVY PIER WILL GO ON DESPITE THE OMICRON SURGE.
MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAYS THE DISPLAY WILL BE VISIBLE ON THE LAKEFRONT AND THE CHICAGO RIVER AND URGES CHICAGOANS TO SAFELY CONGREGATE OUTSIDE OR WATCH THE SHOW ON TV.
THE FIREWORKS WERE CANCELED LAST YEAR DUE TO COVID.
>> AND UP NEXT, A CHECK IN WITH TWO INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTORS AS COVID CASES SPIKE.
SO STAY WITH US.
>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... S. >> U.S. HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SHORTENING THE RECOMMENDED TIME FOR COVID ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE.
THE C.D.C.
NOW CALLS FOR ANYONE WITH COVID TO ISOLATE FOR FIVE DAYS INSTEAD OF 10 THAT IS IF THEY DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS AND C.D.C.
ADDITIONALLY RECOMMENDS WEARING A MASK FOR FIVE DAYS AFTER THAT QUARANTINE PERIOD.
C.D.C.
IS ALSO SIMILARLY SHORTENING THE TIME THAT CLOSE CONTACTS NEED TO QUARANTINE.
THIS ALL COMES AS COVID CASES SURGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
JOINING US WITH MORE ARE Dr. JOHN SEGRET MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF INFECTION CONTROL AND PREVENTION AT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER AND Dr. RACHEL RUBIN SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER AND COLEAD AT COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
WELCOME BACK BOTH OF YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
Dr. SEGRET GIVE US A SENSE WHAT HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE LIKE AT RUSH?
>> THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ADMITTED WITH COVID IS DEFINITELY GOING UP.
AND IT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS OR SO.
AND WE'RE SEEING MORE PEOPLE IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.
WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT WHILE WE'RE SEEING FAIR NUMBER OF VACCINATED PEOPLE BEING ADMITTED, VERY FEW OF THE PEOPLE ON THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED OR BOOSTED.
SO IT DOES SEEM LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MOST SEVERELY ILL ARE THE ONES WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED AND NOT BOOSTED.
>> AND DOCTOR ARE YOU EXPECTING TO SEE A RISE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AFTER THIS PAST WEEKEND'S HOLIDAY GATHERINGS?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST AND I EXPECT THAT WE'LL SEE SOME UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF CASES.
HOW MUCH?
NO ONE KNOWS.
BUT I SUSPECT WE'LL SEE MORE CASES ON TOP OF THE SURGE THAT WE ARE GOING -- THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING ALREADY.
>> Dr. RUB BIN WOULD YOU SAY HE HE RUBIN WOULD YOU SAY OMICRON IS LEADING THE CASESSOR IS DELTA LEADING THE WAY?
>> FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL BASED ON THE STATISTICS FROM THE C.D.C., IT LOOKS LIKE THAT THE NEW CASES THAT WE ARE SEEING NOW ARE PREDOMINANTLY OMICRON N TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DOCUMENT IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND ESPECIALLY IN THE CHICAGO AREA, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW YET.
THIS IS CERTAINLY WHAT WE SUSPECT BUT BECAUSE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE POSITIVE CASES THE SPECIMENS ARE GINO TYPED FOR THE TYPE OF VIRUS THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE BEING INFECTED WITH WE DON'T KNOW YET.
BUT WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT IF OMICRON IS NOT THE PREDOMINANT VARIANT IN OUR AREA IT WILL BE VERY SHORTLY.
>> Dr. SEGRET HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE IMPACT OF THE ONGOING STAFF SHORTAGE ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE SEEING HEALTHCARE WORKERS THEMSELVES BEING INFECTED WITH AMID THIS SURGE?
>> YEAH, I THINK THE BIG DIFFERENCE WITH THIS SURGE COMPARED TO SURGES WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST IS THAT IN THE PAST WE HAD PLENTY OF -- WE HAD A SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY PATIENTS.
THIS TIME, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT SEEING AS MANY PATIENTS AS WE DID IN MARCH AND APRIL OF 2020, WE'VE GOT FEWER STAFF.
AND SO IT REALLY HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT HAVE GOTTEN SICK.
>> AS WE MENTIONED THE U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION JUST UPDATING THE GUIDELINES THAT PEOPLE WHO TEST POSITIVE CAN EXIT ISOLATION AFTER FIVE DAYS IF THEY DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS AND IF THEY CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK FOR FIVE DAYS POST QUARANTINE.
Dr. RUBIN WHAT IS COOK COUNTY CURRENTLY RECOMMENDING FOR PEOPLE WHO TEST POSITIVE?
>> AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED WHETHER WE WILL BE IN SYNC WITH THE LATEST C.D.C.
GUIDANCE SO WE USUALLY ARE IN LOCK STEP WITH THEM BUT WE NEED TO WAIT-AND-SEE WHAT THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PUTS OUT FOR THEIR GUIDANCE FOR THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN OUR AREA.
>> OK.
SOUNDS LIKE THE GUIDANCE IS NOT DECIDED YET AND I'M SURE WE WILL BE HEARING FROM THOSE DEPARTMENTS GOING FORWARD.
BUT WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE OMICRON VARIANT THAT MIGHT SUPPORT THIS NEW GUIDELINE AND WHAT THE NEW GUIDELINE COULD BE BASED ON?
>> THE GUIDELINES I THINK ARE BASED ON THE SCIENCE AS WE KNOW IT UP TO NOW, WHICH IS THAT ESPECIALLY WITH OMICRON, THAT IT'S HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS.
YOU CAN GET IT QUICKER.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE EXPOSED FOR SOMEBODY AS LONG BEFORE YOU GET IT.
ALSO FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, INDIVIDUALS TEND TO GET VERY MILD AND MAYBE ASYMPTOMATIC CASES OF IT.
WE TEND TO -- IT'S BEEN SHOWN THAT WHEN SOMEBODY IS SYMPTOMATIC MEANS THEY PROBABLY HAVE A HIGHER VIRAL LOAD AND MORE LIKELY TO BE CONTAGIOUS AND INFECT SOMEBODY ELSE THAT THEY MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH.
BUT IF THEY HAVE NO SYMPTOMS AT ALL, WAITING THAT FIVE-DAY PERIOD BUT REMEMBER IT'S NOT JUST FIVE DAYS OF ISOLATION THEY ARE RECOMMENDING IT'S ALSO AN ADDITIONAL FIVE DAYS WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL WEARS A MASK AT ALL TIMES WHEN THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME.
SO PUTTING THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER MOST LIKELY WILL KEEP INDIVIDUALS SAFE.
AND IN TERMS OF THE QUARANTINE PERIOD, THAT, AGAIN, MEANS THAT IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED, IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT YOU MAINTAIN THAT QUARANTINE FOR 10 DAYS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
AND IF IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY STRICT WITH YOUR MASK WEARING AND IF YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED, AND YOU ARE CLOSE CONTACT BUT HAVE NO SYMPTOMS THEREFORE YOU DON'T SEEM TO HAVE AN ACTIVE CASE OF COVID, YOU ARE ALSO LIKELY NOT GOING TO BE INFECTING SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> NOW, Dr. SEGRET, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE U.K.
THEY WERE HIT BY THE OMICRON WAY BEFORE THE U.S.
THEY HAVE BEGUN TO REPORT THAT HOSPITALIZATION RATES HAVE STARTED TO HIT THEIR PEAK.
AT WHAT POINT DO WE THINK THE SAME COULD HAPPEN IN THE U.S. OR ARE WE EXPECTING THE SITUATION TO WORSEN IN JANUARY?
>> WELL, IF THE PAST IS ANY PREDICTOR OF THE FUTURE WHAT WE'VE GENERALLY SEEN IS THAT AS THE NUMBER OF CASES GOES UP AND ONE TO TWO TO THREE WEEKS LATER, NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS START TO GO UP.
AGAIN, THE RATE AT WHICH HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS HAVE GONE UP IN THOSE COUNTRIES HAS NOT BEEN NEARLY AS STEEP AS THE RATE OF CASES.
SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO END UP IN THE HOSPITAL OR END UP DYING.
BUT I DO THINK THAT WE'LL SEE A LOT MORE PEOPLE GET INFECTED.
PROBABLY THROUGH JANUARY.
>> Dr. RUBIN WHAT PRACTICES DO YOU ADVISE FOR PEOPLE AS WE APPROACH THE WEEKEND NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS?
>> WELL, AS YOU ARE AWARE, WE AS WELL AS THE CITY OF CHICAGO, MY HEALTH DEPARTMENT COVERS THE MAJORITY OF THE SUBURBS IS THAT WE'VE PUT OUT A NEW MITIGATION ORDER THAT WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL AFTER NEW YEAR'S.
ANYTHING IN THAT ORDER IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT PEOPLE CONGREGATE IN LARGE SETTINGS WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WITH ITS UNRELATED PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD WHERE YOU ARE NOT SURE OF ANYBODY'S VACCINATION STATUS.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING NOT TO HAVE LARGE NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS.
EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE MANDATED AS BEING PROHIBITED.
SO THAT IS ONE THING FOR SURE.
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR MASK.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE YOU ARE NOT SURE WHETHER THEY ARE VACCINATED AND NOT PART OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
WASH YOUR HANDS.
TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT PHYSICAL DISTANCE SIX FEET OR MORE AND THESE ARE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN SAYING SINCE THE SUMMER WHEN WE HAVE HAD AN INDOOR MASKS ORDER THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO MASK WHETHER THEY ARE VACCINATED OR NOT.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A LARGE GATHERING AND PEOPLE ARE EATING OR DRINKING, AND THEY ARE DANCING POTENTIALLY THAT IS A REAL ISSUE.
>> THEY BEGIN TO FORGET.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE AND BEST OF LUCK AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO Dr. JOHN SEGRET AND Dr. RACHEL RUBIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AND NOW PARIS BACK TO YOU.
>> THANKS, BRANDIS.
HOLIDAY TRAVEL IS TURNING OUT TO BE A NIGHTMARE FOR WOULD BE FLYERS AS THE OMICRON VARIANT SURGE TRIGGERS THE CANCELLATION OF THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS.
AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, THE FLIGHT DATA WEBSITE FLIGHT AWARE REPORTS 1100 CANCELLATIONS FOR FLIGHTS WITHIN TO OR FROM THE U.S. AFTER 3,000 CANCELLATIONS OVER THE WEEKEND.
IS THERE AN END TO THE HOLIDAY TRAVEL CHAOS?
AND HOW WELL CAN THE INDUSTRY WEATHER THE LATEST COVID SURGE?
JOINING US ARE HENRY HARTEVELDT THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY ANALYST AND PRESIDENT OF ATMOSPHERE RESEARCH GROUP.
AND CAPTAIN DENNIS TAJER, AN AMERICAN AIRLINES PILOT AND A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION.
WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."
DENNIS MUILENBERG WE SEE DEMAND NEAR PREPANDEMIC LEVELS BUT CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS.
WHAT IS BEHIND THE PICKUP?
>> DEMAND IS HERE.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC PROVEN THAT OVER THE SUMMER AND NOW.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IS OUR CALLS THAT WE'VE SEEN DURING THE SUMMER AND OVER HALLOWEEN AND THAT IS SOME WEATHER HIT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS COVID FLARE-UP HAS HIT SO IT'S CAUSING SOME STRAIN ON THE OPERATION.
SEEING THE CANCELLATIONS IS NOT SURPRISING.
BUT IT'S THE RECOVERY WE'RE WATCHING FOR AND AMERICAN HAS BEEN UNIQUELY CHALLENGED IN RECOVERING FROM THESE EVENTS.
>> HENRY HARTEVELDT WHEN WE SAY THE OPERATIONS DOES THAT MEAN CREWS ARE GOING DOWN WITH COVID AND THERE IS NO BACK UP?
>> CORRECT.
THE OMICRON VARIANT OF COVID HITS PEOPLE RANDOMLY.
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND HAVE GOTTEN A BOOSTER SHOT.
AND SO AN AIRLINE EMPLOYEES DON'T HAVE A SPECIAL SIGN OVER THEIR HEADS SAYING I WORK FOR AN AIRLINE DON'T HIT ME OMICRON THEY ARE AS VULNERABLE AS EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND AIRLINES HAVE RESERVE CREWS THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY PEOPLE WORKING AND AIRLINES CANNOT CONTROL WHO GETS SICK AND WHO DOESN'T.
>> CAPTAIN DENNIS TAJER IN TERMS OF AIRLINES WAS THIS INEVITABLE OR COULD IT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED?
>> WELL, THE INFECTION RATE IS NOTHING THAT ANYONE CAN CONTROL.
BUT HOW WELL AND HOW QUICKLY THESE AIRLINES RECOVER AND UNITED AND DELTA AND JETBLUE ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO SEE WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT LOCALIZED TO AN AREA.
IT IS ACROSS THE SYSTEM.
SO WHICH AIRLINE IS ABLE TO RECOVER THE QUICKEST AND MOST EFFECTIVELY TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PASSENGERS.
THE RACE IS ON.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BEAT THIS COVID THING BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WE WANT TO GET OUR PEOPLE FROM A TO B TODAY.
>> WHICH AIRLINE MIGHT BE THE FIRST TO EMERGE WITHOUT THE CANCELLATIONS?
AND HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THISRIES DUPION WILL LAST.
>> IT IS NOT ONE THAT I CAN ANSWER BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE OMICRON IS GOING TO HIT.
IT SEEMS THAT UNITED AND DELTA WERE HIT WITH MORE OUT AND MORE CREWS WHO WERE SICK BEFORE AMERICAN.
IF THE TREND CONTINUES, IT'S POSSIBLE I'M NOT SAYING IT'S GUARANTEED THAT UNITED AND DELTA MAY EMERGE FROM THIS AHEAD OF AMERICAN BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE VIRUS IS RANDOM AND IT COULD JUST AFFECT PEOPLE AT ANY AIRLINE AT ANY TIME.
>> CAPTAIN DENNIS TAJER THERE'S BEEN DEBATE FOR THE LAST YEAR WHETHER THE F.A.A.
SHOULD MANDATE VACCINATION FOR ALL AIR TRAVELERS.
PRESIDENT BUSH SAID HE DID NOT THINK -- PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID DE NOT THINK IT WAS NECESSARY QUITE YET.
DO YOU THINK THERE WILL COME TO A POINT WHERE IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY?
>> WHAT WE DO KNOW IT'S SAFE TO BE ON AN AIRPLANE.
THE AIRFLOW THE FILTRATION, THE HEPA FILTERS ARE HIGHER THAN IN A SURGICAL ROOM.
WHEN I AM ON A TRIP SOMETIMES I WANT TO GET TO THE AIRPLANE BECAUSE I KNOW IN THAT COIN R CONTAINED AREA I AM IN THE SAFEST PLACE POSSIBLE.
IT'S THE RIDE FROM THE HOTEL TO THE AIRPORT ON THAT VAN THAT I GET CONCERNED ABOUT.
SO WE'LL LET THE SCIENTISTS FIGURE THIS OUT AND THE VACCINATION.
WE DON'T WANT THAT TO BE USED AS LEVERAGE TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO GET VAXED.
THE AIRPLANE IS SAFE.
WE WANT TO TRUST THE SCIENCE AND GO WITH IT AND NOT BE CAUGHT UP IN THE LEVERAGE CAMPAIGN.
>> I'M VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.
I BELIEVE IN IT.
BUT WE HAVE 88% OF OUR PILOTS VACCINATED AND WORKING THROUGH EXEMPTIONS ON THE OTHERS.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NOT RASH DECISIONS MADE WITH A COCKPIT WITH A RUSH TO COMPLY.
>> AND HENRY HARTEVELDT MOST MAJOR CARRIERS DID REQUIRE VACCINATION FOR WORKERS, CREW, PILOTS ALTHOUGH MUCH OF THAT DOESN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.
HOW IS THAT GOING?
>> WELL, IT SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL YOU HEARD THAT 88% OF THE AMERICAN AIRLINES PILOTS ARE VACCINATED.
UNITED AND DELTA, SOUTHWEST AND OTHERS HAVE SIMILAR HIGH NUMBERS MAYBE HIGHER.
AND LOOK, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY AIRLINE EMPLOYEES VACCINATED, AS WE DO NOW, IT'S POSSIBLE THESE CANCELLATIONS COULD BE FAR GREATER IN NUMBER AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE AFFECTED BY THESE CANCELLATIONS MUCH, MUCH LARGER.
>> DENNIS IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING FROM YOUR END WITH THE UNION THAT CREW MEMBERS, PILOTS ARE CHOOSING TO BE VACCINATED ARE HOLDOUTS LOSING THEIR JOBS OVER IT?
>> WELL, NO ONE IS GOING TO LOSE THEIR JOB ON JANUARY FOURTH THAT IS THE TIME TO REVISIT THAT AND MOST OF OUR PILOTS 88% AND THEN THERE ARE SOME WHO CANNOT GET THE VACCINATION DUE TO MEDICAL REASONS.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.
WE'LL FIND OUT JANUARY 4.
BUT THAT NOT THE DROP DEAD DATE, IT'S THE TIME PILOTS WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WHILE THEY WORK THROUGH THE FINAL MOMENTS.
FOR THE CODED REASONS WHY AMERICANS CANCELING THE FLIGHTS WE ARE ABLE TO SEE THOSE IN 85-90% ARE ATTRIBUTED TO NOT BEING ABLE TO CONNECT THE PILOT TO THE AIRPLANE.
WE'VE WATCHED AMERICAN AND THE WEATHER RECOVERY STRUGGLE CONNECTING PILOTS AND WE WANT TO SEE WHERE THE CORRELATION IS ON THIS AND KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER.
>> SO YOU'RE SAYING MAYBE REQUIRE SMOOTHER OPERATIONS AT HIGHER LEVELS WITH AMERICAN.
HENRY HARTEVELDT AS WE MENTIONED THE DEMAND IS BACK.
AMERICANS WANT TO TRAVEL.
ARE AIRLINES RECOVERING FROM THE MAJOR FINANCIAL LOSSES AND ABLE TO TURN A PROFIT?
>> YES.
SO SO FAR THIS YEAR THE AIRLINES HAVE MANAGED PRETTY WELL.
NOT ALL AIRLINES ARE HANDLING THIS EQUALLY WELL BUT MOST ARE DOING WELL AND THERE WAS OPTIMISM GOING INTO CHRISTMAS THAT FOR SEVERAL CARRIERS THEY WOULD BE PROFITABLE.
THE LOSSES ARE MUCH LOWER NOW THAN THEY WERE DURING 2020 AND THERE'S GREAT HOPE THAT IN 2022 WE SEE A MEANINGFUL RESUMPTION OF BUSINESS TRAVEL AND WE SHOULD BE ON A GOOD TRAJECTORY FOR AIRLINES TO RETURN TO A MORE NORMAL PACE OF BUSINESS AT LEAST AS FAR AS REVENUES AND PROFITS ARE CONCERNED.
>> WE'LL SEE HOW IT GETS IRONED OUT.
OUR THANKS TO HENRY HARTEVELDT AND CAPTAIN DENNIS TAJER.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND UP NEXT SEEING A PARENT FROM ANOTHER ANGLE.
SO STAY WITH US.
>> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON PAUSED STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS.
BUT FIRST, PHOTOS HAVE THE POWER TO TRANSPORT US THROUGH TIME TAKING US BACK TO THE PLACES AND PEOPLE WE ACHE TO SEE AGAIN.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PHOTOS ARE OF A LOVED ONE LOST LONG AGO.
LOCAL TELEVISION PRODUCER AND WRITER JOAN TORTORICI RUPPERT LOST HER FATHER AS A YOUNG CHILD BUT THROUGH A COLLECTION OF REDISCOVERED KNOW TOW NEGATIVES SHE IS GETTING TO KNOW WHO HE WAS BEFORE HE WAS HER FATHER AND A GLIMPSE INTO CHICAGO HISTORY AS WELL.
ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.
>> THIS ONE IS MY DAD, TOO.
WHO TOOK IT, I HAVE NO IDEA.
BUT I KNOW THIS IS PREWAR BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE SHRAPNEL SCARS ON HIS BELLY.
>> JOAN TORTORICI RUPPERT BARELY HAD TIME TO KNOW HER FATHER BEFORE HIS SUDDEN DEATH IN 1963.
HE WAS 43 YEARS OLD AND SHE WAS JUST 8.
>> I REMEMBER THAT HE WAS VERY TALL AND VERY BROAD AND I WAS LITTLE AND IT NEVER DAWNED ON ME AAS A LITTLE KID THAT HE WAS SO INCREDIBLY YOUNG WHEN HE DIED.
>> JOE NEVER GOT TO GROW OLD BUT 60 YEARS AFTER HE DIED HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WATCHED HIM GROW YOUNG FROM THE PHOTOS IN 1930s CHICAGO.
>> HE WAS NOT THE GUY WHO ALWAYS HAD A CAMERA THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WAS SURPRISED WHEN MY MOM HANDED ME THE SHOE BOX AND SAID YOUR DAD WAS AN AVID PHOTOGRAPHER.
>> RUPERT'S MOTHER NANCY PRESENTED HER WITH A SHOE BOX FULL OF NEGATIVES IN THE 90s AFTER RUPERT MENTIONED SHE WAS TAKING A DARKROOM CLASS.
RUPERT HAD BASIC KNOWLEDGE HOW TO PROCESS NEGATIVES SO THE NEGATIVES SAT IN A CLOSET FOR TWO DECADES.
RUPERT FINALLY FELT READY TO TACKLE THE PROJECT IN EARLY 2020 AND THEN... >> WELL, COVID HIT AND A LOT OF US HAD A LOT OF TIME ON OUR HANDS.
SO I WAS ABLE TO JUST COMPLETELY IMMERSE MYSELF IN THE RESEARCH AND TRIAL OF ERROR OF GETTING AS MUCH DETAIL OUT OF THE NEGATIVES AND THE INTERNET HELPED ME LEARN HOW TO DO THAT.
BASICALLY, YOU CREATE A WHITE SPACE, SET YOUR SMARTPHONE TO INVERT COLORS, AND THEN INSTANTLY YOUR NEGATIVES BECOME POSITIVES.
>> SOON RUPERT WAS WATCHING A NEW IMAGE OF HER FATHER DEVELOP BEFORE HER EYES.
>> HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS BEING AT THE SCHOOLYARD.
MUGGING FOR THE CAMERA.
POSING WITH COOL CARDS THAT YOU LIKELY DON'T OWN.
THEY DID GOOFY THINGS THEY CLIMBED UP ON BILLBOARDS?
MY DAD WAS A TEENAGER AND HE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL?
HE HAD FRIENDS?
HE HAD BLOND GIRLFRIENDS WHO WEREN'T MY MOM.
THINGS LIKE THAT THAT SURPRISED ME THAT I KNEW HE HAD A YOUTH BUT TO ACTUALLY SEE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS REALLY AMAZING.
>> RUPERT RECOGNIZED SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURES AS FAMILY.
BUT EVEN WHEN SHE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE PHOTO SUBJECTS, RUPERT SAYS THE QUALITY OF THE PHOTOS DREW HER IN.
>> I WOULD PUT SOMETHING UP ON THE SCANNER AND MY HEART WOULD JUST BE BEATING OUT OF MY CHEST BECAUSE I'M THINKING THIS IS A REALLY GOOD PICTURE.
AND THEN THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER ONE.
>> THE PHOTOS STOPPED AROUND 1943 WHEN JOE LEFT FOR NAVAL DUTY IN WORLD WAR II.
RUPERT THOUGHT THAT WAS THE EXTENT OF THE COLLECTION UNTIL HER OLDER SISTER UNEARTHED A SECOND BATCH.
>> IN THE SECOND BATCH, WERE PICTURES OF US AS TINY LITTLE KIDS.
THE EMPTY LOT IN THE SUBURBS WHERE OUR HOUSE WAS GOING TO BE.
SO I SAW HIM GO FROM A CHILD TO A MAN.
WITH THE GAP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WAR YEARS.
AND THAT TO ME WAS VERY TELLING.
>> WHILE JOE WAS IN HIS PHOTOS HIS WORK CAPTURED THE CHARACTER OF THE THEN DEEPLY ITALIAN NEAR WEST SIDE.
RUPERT CREATED A WEBSITE FEATURING A SELECTION OF THE PHOTOS AND TURNED TO CHICAGO HISTORY SOCIAL MEDIA GROUPS FOR HELP IDENTIFYING THE PLACES.
ONE SUCH LOCATION WAS CRANE TECH HIGH SCHOOL WHICH FACEBOOKERS RECOGNIZED THANKS TO THE SCONCES.
WE JOINED RUPERT ON HER FIRST VISIT TO HER FATHER'S ALMA MATER WHERE SHE WAS DELIGHTED TO LEARN HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CAMERA CLUB.
>> HE LEARNED HIS CRAFT.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM AND WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO ASK HIM?
>> I WOULD WANT TO TELL HIM THAT I SEE HIM.
AND I'M GLAD HE KEPT THE NEGATIVES BUT I WOULD TELL HIM THANKS.
>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.
>> RUPERT CALLS THE COLLECTION THE SHOE BOX NEGATIVES AND WELCOMES ANY INFORMATION ON THE PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE PHOTOS.
YOU WILL FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.
>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", SNOW IS IN THIS WEEK'S FORECAST.
POSSIBLY ENDING THIS YEAR'S NEAR RECORD LONG STRETCH WITHOUT ANY FLAKES.
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN EXTENDS THE PAUSE ON REPAYING FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS UNTIL MAY 1 SOME ARE CALLING ON HIM TO GO FURTHER.
>> IN THE STUDIO AND AT THE MUSEUM WITH ARTIST TONY FITZPATRICK, AND ARTWORKS THAT BLEND NATURE WITH URBAN GRIT.
AND A FAMILIAR FACE TO MANY WE REMEMBER THE LATE Dr. LESTER FISHER AND HIS TIME AT LINCOLN PARK ZOO.
FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> AS THE OMICRON VARIANT SURGES ACROSS THE STATE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS IT'S DOING MORE TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED AND TESTED.
>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING THE HIGHEST SURGE IN CASES ACROSS THE PANDEMIC FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE HAD 21,000 NEW CASES REPORTED FROM DECEMBER 24.
THE HIGHEST FOR THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT CASES.
IF IT WAS JUST CASES AND NO ONE WAS ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL THEN LET THE CASES BE.
>> DR. NGOZI EZIKE SAYS THE NUMBER OF COVID HOSPITAL CASES INCREASED BY 330 PEOPLE IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.
THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S OFFICE SAY THEY ARE DOUBLING PERSONNEL THAT REGIONAL SITES TO HELP ADMINISTER VACCINES AS WELL AS INCREASING THE NUMBER OF OPERATING DAYS AT COMMUNITY-BASED TESTING SITES UP TO SIX DAYS A WEEK.
THE STATE'S CURRENT TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 11.7%.
>> ACTIVISTS ARE DEMANDING MORE INFORMATION ON WHY A 33-YEAR-OLD WOMAN DIED WHILE IN POLICE CUSTODY MORE THAN A WEEK AGO.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS SAY MILITARY VETERAN IRENE CHAVEZ WAS FOUND HUNG TO DEATH IN THE POLICE STATION NEAR THE GREATER GRAND CROSSING COMMUNITY.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS OUTSIDE THE STATION, THEY SAY THE BLACK AND LATINO QUEER WOMAN WAS ARRESTED FOR A MISDEMEANOR AT GEOFFREY PUB ON DECEMBER 18TH.
BUT CHAVEZ'S SISTER SAYS DESPITE EFFORTS TO GET ANSWERS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHE HAS MANY QUESTIONS.
>> BECAUSE I HAVE TO SPECULATE LIKE THIS IS WHY I AM HERE.
I HAVE TO GET ANSWERS.
I HAVE TO GET SOMEONE TO SPEAK TO ME WITHOUT A REDACTED REPORT THAT I GOT AT THE CHICAGO HEADQUARTERS.
NO INFORMATION, NO NARRATIVE, NO NOTHING.
I NEED SOMETHING FROM SOMEONE.
>> AND A FIFTH CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS GAME HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
THE NHL SAYS WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S GAME AGAINST THE WIN JETS WILL BE WYNN JETS WILL BE RESCHEDULED.
FOUR GAMES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED.
NHL'S COMMISSIONER SAYS THE LEAGUE WILL USE THE FEBRUARY 5-22 WINDOW TO RESCHEDULE GAMES SINCE PLAYERS WILL NOT BE COMPETING IN THE OLYMPICS DUE TO INCREASING COVID CASES.
>> PARIS BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE WITHOUT FLAKES OF SNOW.
AND IN FACT IT'S BEEN 287 DAYS WITHOUT MEASURABLE SNOWFALL IN CHICAGO.
THE CITY'S THREE DAYS OUT FROM THE NO SNOW RECORD OF 290 DAYS SETBACK IN 2012 BUT THIS WEEK'S FORECAST HAS A DIFFERENT PLAN WITH A CALL FOR WET SNOW AND A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW ON WEDNESDAY 1-3 INCHES ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE TOMORROW.
AND JOINING US IS LEE CARLA, A METEOROLOGIST WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO.
LEE CARLA THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
SO TELL US HOW RARE IT IS TO GO THIS LONG WITHOUT A FLAKE OF SNOW?
>> YEAH, OBVIOUSLY YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH THAT RECORD.
IT'S GOING ON SINCE 2012 WITH THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAD NOT SEEN FLAKES AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON.
AND THAT EVERYDAY SINCE DECEMBER 20TH WE HAVE BEEN ADDING TO THAT NEW RECORD.
287 DAYS SINCE THE LAST MEASURABLE SNOWFALL AT THE CHICAGO CLIMATE SITE IN O'HARE.
I WILL SAY IT IS NOT THE SAME WE HAVE NOT SEEN SNOW SO FAR THIS YEAR.
O'HARE ITSELF, THE CLIMATE FOR CHICAGO HAS RECORDED SNOW ON ABOUT A DOZEN DAYS SO FAR THIS WINTER.
IT'S JUST THAT IT HASN'T FALLEN HEAVY ENOUGH TO ACCUMULATE OR THE SHOWERS DANCED AROUND THE AIRPORT.
WE DOWN HERE IN ROMEOVILLE 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF O'HARE DID PICK UP HALF AN INCH OF SNOW EARLIER IN NOVEMBER.
HAVE YET TO SEE THE FIRST MEASURABLE SNOW AT THE MEASURING SITE AT O'HARE INTERNATIONAL.
>> TO END THIS DROUGHT WE NEED A MEASURABLE SNOWFALL.
DEFINE MEASURABLE SNOWFALL?
>> THE TERMINOLOGY THAT IS A 10TH OF AN INCH OR MORE.
ANYTIME YOU SEE FLAKES FLYING BUT THEY DO NOT ACCUMULATE, THAT IS TERMED NONMEASURABLE SNOWFALL THOUGH YOU MAY BE SEEING THE FLAKES IN THE AIR.
THAT IS THE MAIN NUMBER WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
FOR TOMORROW AT LEAST WHEN SNOWFALL IS BACK IN THE FORECAST.
>> ROMEOVILLE HAS BROKEN ITS OWN DROUGHT BUT NOT CHICAGO AND THERE IS SNOW IN THE FORECAST FOR THE REGION WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TOMORROW AND WEDNESDAY.
>> DECENT LOOKING SHOT FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW TOMORROW.
AND THE SNOW WILL BREAK OUT LATE IN THE MORNING EARLY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE AREA.
WINTER-WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF I80.
BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL FOR A WIDESPREAD PORTION OF THE AREA HERE.
LOOKING AT ONE TO THREE INCHES OF SNOW ON ELEVATED AND GRASSY SURFACES BUT IT MAY COME DOWN HEAVY ENOUGH.
>> I ANTICIPATE LOTS OF LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MODERATE SNOWFALL EVENT.
WHAT IS DRIVING THIS MILDER DRYER WINTER SO FAR?
>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE'LL TURN THIS BACK TO LA NINA, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS ALL THAT IS IT IS A STRENGTHENING OF THE TRADE WINDS ALONG THE PACIFIC AND THAT ENDS UP DRIVING THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY FARTHER WEST.
IF YOU WERE TO PULL UP A SATELLITE MAP YOU WOULD SEE LOTS OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS INDONESIA AND YOU THINK THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHY THAT MAY BE IMPACTING OUR WEATHER HERE.
OVER THE COURSE OF A DAY OR A WEEK IT DOESN'T MATTER.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY THUNDERSTORMS ONGOING OVER THE COURSE OF A SEASON THE ATMOSPHERIC ENERGY BUDGET HAS TO CHANGE AND THE WAY IT DOES THAT, IS A LARGE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE HAS BEEN BUILT OFF TO THE WEST ACROSS THE PACIFIC AND SENT THE POLAR JETSTREAM WELL NORTH INTO CANADA.
AND WE HAVE FOUND OURSELVES ON THE WARM SIDE OF THAT JETSTREAM FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
>> THUNDERSTORMS IN INDONESIA IMPACTING OUR WINTER HERE IN CHICAGO.
INTERESTING.
WHAT DOES THAT PORTEND FOR THE REST OF THE WINTER?
>> LOOKING OVER THE NEAR TERM OVER THE NEXT ONE TO TWO WEEKS WE WILL TREND TOWARDS AN ACTIVE AND COLDER SPELL AS WE HEAD INTO JANUARY.
CERTAINLY THE HEART OF OUR WINTER SEASON HERE.
AND SO THUS FAR WE HAVE HAD A STORMY PATTERN WE HAVE NOT HAD THE COLD AIR AND THAT MAY BE CHANGING AND INTO NEXT YEAR.
SO TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.
OUR LAST WINTER SEASON, 2020 INTO 2021, THAT WAS ALSO A LA NINA YEAR AND THIS TIME WE WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF SNOW.
BUT I'M SURE MANY CHICAGOANS REMEMBER THAT WE ENTERED THAT YEAR WITH QUITE A BIT OF SNOW IN JANUARY TO FEBRUARY, 26 INCHES.
>> WE GOT BLASTED IN THOSE MONTHS.
I WILL NEVER FORGET HOW HIGH THAT SNOW PILED UP.
ARE YOU SAYING THE SAME THING COULD HAPPEN AGAIN?
>> IT'S NOT SET IN STONE BUT WE CAN SEE HOW WEATHER CAN CHANGE ON A DIME WE NEED THAT RIGHT OVERLAP OF THE STORM TRACK AND COLD AIR BLEEDING OF CANADA AND WE HAVE MAY HAVE CHANCES OF THAT.
>> AND YOU MENTIONED LA NINA.
WE WILL NATURALLY OCCURRING SYSTEMS TO WHAT AN EXTENT IS CLIMATE CHANGE PLAYING A ROLE IN THIS?
>> I WILL PREFACE SAYING IT'S DIFFICULT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONNECT AN INDIVIDUAL STORM SYSTEM OR A SEASONAL STORM TRACK TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE CAN SAY IS THAT AT LEAST OVER THE LAST THREE TO FIVE DECADES OR SO THERE HAS BEEN A SLIGHT TREND TOWARDS MILDER DECEMBERS, LESS SNOWY DECEMBERS IN CHICAGO.
AND THAT IS JUST BORN OUT OF THE OBSERVATIONS HERE.
ULTIMATELY, WEATHER PATTERNS THAT WE SEE AN A DAY-TO-DAY OR SEASONAL BASIS ARE DRIVEN BY THINGS LIKE THE JETSTREAM, EL NINO AND LA NINA AND THOSE ARE NATURAL.
THEY WILL UNDERGO SYSTEMIC CHANGES IN OSCILLATIONS OVER THE COURSE OF CASED THERE.
>> WELL, SO MANY DIMINISHING CHANCES FOR WHITE CHRISTMASES DOWN THE ROAD BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH WON'T SEE THEIR SHARE OF SNOW.
LEE CARLA THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AND UP NEXT AN UPDATE ON STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS.
FIRST, A LOOK AT THAT UP COMING FORECAST.
[♪♪♪] MILLIONS OF STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS ARE GETTING ANOTHER REPRIEVE FROM MAKING FEDERAL LOAN PAYMENTS.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EXTENDED THE FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN MORATORIUM THAT WAS SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF JANUARY.
BUT SOME ADVOCATES ARE SAYING THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH.
JOINING US TO DISCUSS WHAT THE LOAN FREEZE MEANS FOR BORROWERS AND THE ECONOMY IS CODY HOUNANIAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE STUDENT DEBT CRISIS CENTER.
WELCOME BACK.
I THINK THE LAST TIME YOU AND I SPOKE IS WHEN THE STUDENT LOAN MORATORIUM WAS LIFTED NOW PAYMENTS PAUSED AGAIN UNTIL THE SPRING.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE OMICRON VARIANT INFLUENCED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION FOR THIS EXTENSION?
>> WELL, I THINK THE VARIANT IS THE NUMBER ONE FACTOR THAT HAVE SEEN POLICIES INCLUDING STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS.
IN OUR ORGANIZATION STUDENT DEBT CRISIS CENTER WE POLLED IN NOVEMBER 33,000 PEOPLE AND WE FOUND THAT 9 OUT OF 10 SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT FINANCIALLY SECURE ENOUGH TO RESUME PAYMENTS IN FEBRUARY BETWEEN THE END OF NOVEMBER AND BEGINNING OF DECEMBER, WE SAW THE VARIANT START TO SURGE AND ECONOMIC SITUATIONS START TO BECOME LESS CERTAIN.
SO I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE -- THAT THE PRESIDENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LOOKED AT THIS SURGE AND THOUGHT THIS CANNOT BE THE RIGHT TIME TO RESUME PAYMENTS.
>> OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THERE ARE THOSE THAT OBJECT TO THE IDEA OF PAUSING STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS LET ALONE CANCELING THEM AS I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE CALLING FOR BUT THEY ARE MAKING THE CASE THIS COULD HURT THE ECONOMY AND BORROWERS HAVE TO RECUPERATE FUNDS THROUGH TAXES AND OTHER SUPPORT.
WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT HERE?
>> WELL, FIRST, I WOULD TELL THESE NAY SAYERS TALK TO PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW WITH STUDENT LOAN DEBT.
I TALK TO BORROWERS EVERYDAY.
THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, THEY'VE BEEN DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES, PUTTING SHELTER OVER THEIR HEADS, PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT VERY SERIOUS FINANCIAL OBSTACLES THAT STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS ARE FACING.
I KNOW WE GET LOST IN THE MACROECONOMIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ECONOMY.
BUT THINK ABOUT THE EVERYDAY IMPACT THAT PAUSING STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS THAT POSITIVE IMPACT IT MEANS A LOT.
AND AS FAR AS -- AS FAR AS THAT EXTRA BURDEN, RECENT DATA FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ED SHOWS THAT 85 BILLION DOLLARS WOULD BE RIPPED OUT OF POCKETS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES OVER THE NEXT YEAR IF PAYMENTS WERE TO RESUME.
THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A DOMINO EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY AS WELL.
>> ALL OF THAT SAID WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THE POLITICAL WILL HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT THE PRESIDENT DECIDES TO FULL OUT CANCEL STUDENT LOAN DEBT?
>> WELL, THE PRESIDENT PROMISED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO CANCEL AT LEAST $10,000 IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT AS PART OF HIS COVID-19 RESPONSE.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING AT THIS VARIANT AND THIS SURGE IN CASES AND REALIZING THAT WE ARE STILL DEEPLY IN A PANDEMIC AND RESPONDING TO T I THINK THERE'S STILL A GREAT CHANCE THAT THIS PRESIDENT WILL FULFILL HIS PROMISE.
THE LEGAL EXPERTS HAVE SHOWN AND IT'S PROVEN THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO CANCEL STUDENT LOAN DEBT USING THE SAME POWERS HE USED TO EXTEND THE PAUSE ON PAYMENTS.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF THE PRESIDENT PUTTING PEN TO PAPER AND SIGNING AN EXECUTIVE ACTION AND CANCELING STUDENT LOAN DEBT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT BECAUSE WE FEEL WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JEN PSAKI REFERENCED THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WHEN TALKING ABOUT STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS.
LET'S WATCH.
>> THIS IS AN ISSUE BOTH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS CARE DEEPLY ABOUT.
WHILE THE JOBS RECOVERY IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST ON RECORD WITH SIX MILLION JOBS ADDED UNDER THE PRESIDENT BIDEN THE FEWEST AMERICANS FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT IN 50 YEARS.
WE KNOW SOME STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS ARE COPING WITH THE PANDEMIC AND NEED TIME BEFORE RESUMING PAYMENTS.
>> SO CODY, PSAKI SAYING UNEMPLOYMENT IS DOWN BUT WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF BORROWERS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED?
>> THESE UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS IT IS GREAT NEWS.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR AT THE ECONOMY IS STARTING TO RECOVER AND THAT FOLKS ARE BACK TO WORK.
BUT THAT DOESN'T PAINT THE ENTIRE PICTURE.
OUR ORGANIZATION IN THAT SURVEY, LOOKED AT THE BORROWERS WHO ARE FULLY EMPLOYED AND FILL THERE 89% ARE NOT FINANCIALLY READY TO RESUME PAYMENT.
YES PEOPLE ARE BACK TO WORK AND PEOPLE HAVE FOUND WORK TO TRY TO KEEP THE ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD AND FOOD ON THE TABLE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT THESE BORROWERS HAVE AN ENORMOUS STUDENT LOAN DEBT BURDEN.
IN FACT, ACCORDING TO OUR RESEARCH, A QUARTER OF PEOPLE'S INCOME WILL GO TO STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS OR A CHUNK OF THE BORROWERS.
>> AND CODY BEFORE WE LET YOU GO I WANTED TO MENTION ACCORDING TO THE EDUCATION DATA INITIATIVE ABOUT 43 MILLION BORROWERS EACH OWE MORE THAN $39,000 IN STUDENT DEBT.
COLLECTIVELY BORROWERS OWE NEARLY $1.6 TRILLION.
PAYMENTS EXPECTED NOW TO RESUME IN MAY.
WE HAVE 30 SECONDS WHAT DO BORROWERS NEED TO DO TO PREPARE FOR WHEN THAT DAY COMES?
>> IT SOUNDS SILLY BUT STEP ONE MAKE SURE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION IS UP-TO-DATE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR WITH YOUR STUDENT LOAN SERVER.
YOU WILL GET UPDATES OVER THE NEXT MONTH AND THE NEXT YEAR.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THAT INFORMATION AS SOON AS IT'S RELEASED.
>> CODY HOUNANIAN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> UP NEXT, REMEMBERING A LINCOLN PARK ZOO LEGEND.
STAY WITH US.
LONG TIME DIRECTOR OF LINCOLN PARK ZOO Dr. LESTER FISHER DIED AT 100 YEARS OLD.
HE LED A REMARKABLE LIFE FROM TAKING CARE OF GENERAL PATTON'S BULLDOG IN WORLD WAR II TO A FOUR DECADE ASSOCIATION WITH LINCOLN PARK ZOO.
HE BECAME A FAMILIAR FACE THROUGH HIS ARC IN THE PARK SEGMENTS WITH RAY RAINER AND HE TRANSFORMED NOT JUST LINCOLN PARK ZOO BUT THE NOTION OF WHAT A ZOO COULD BE.
THIS YEAR AROUND FISHER'S 100TH BIRTHDAY, PHIL PONCE SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT HIS LIFE AND CAREER.
PHIL ASKED HIM HOW HE ENDED UPTAKING CARE OF GENERAL PATTON'S BULLDOG.
>> WHEN I WENT TO ENGLAND, MY BOSS COLONEL SPERRY WAS YOU MIGHT SAY A FRIEND OF THE GENERAL'S.
THEY HAD BEEN IN THE CAVALRY IN KANSAS TOGETHER AND SO WHEN PATTON GOT A PUPPY WHEN HE WAS IN ENGLAND BEFORE HE CROSSED CONTINENT AND THE DOG WAS PART OF HIS LIFE AND THE COLONEL OCCASIONALLY WOULD CALL ME AND SAY FISHER I WILL BE GONE A FEW DAYS WHEN I'M AWARE YOU TAKE CARE OF WILLIE.
AND MY ANSWER WAS ALWAYS YES, SIR.
AND I ENJOYED THAT RESPONSIBILITY BUT IT PRAYED ON ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THE DOG DURING MY WATCH, THE GENERAL IS GOING TO GET RID OF ME.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE [INAUDIBLE] THE GERMAN ARMY AND I WAS WORRIED WITH WILLIE.
>> LET'S FAST FORWARD TO YOUR TIME AT THE LIP CON PARK ZOO.
YOU DEVELOPED A STRONG AFFECTION FOR BUSHMAN THE GORILLA.
REMIND US WHO BUSHMAN WAS?
>> BUSHMAN WAS ONE OF TWO BIG GORILLAS IN AMERICA IN THOSE DAYS.
THERE WAS ONE IN WRING LING BROTHERS AND BUSHMAN CAME TO CHICAGO AS A YEAR OLD YOUNGSTER AND WHO GREW UP TO BE AN INCREDIBLE 550 POUND BEAUTIFUL MUSTED GORILLA.
AND -- MUSCLED GORILLA.
AND PEOPLE IN THE CITY WERE FORTUNATE TO COME AND WATCH AND SEE HIM AND IT WAS JUST AN IMMENSE EXPERIENCE TO BE CLOSE TO AN ANIMAL OF THAT SIZE AND SCOPE.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU WOULD EVEN DREAM ABOUT BUSHMAN.
WHAT MADE HIM SO SPECIAL TO YOU?
>> YES, I WOULD.
BECAUSE THE DREAMS WERE THE WORRISOME PART WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF BUSHMAN GETS SICK.
HOW AM I GOING TO TAKE CARE OF HIM?
WHAT IF I'M COMING TO THE MONKEY HOUSE AT NIGHT, 2:00 A.M. AND WHAT IF BUSHMAN IS STANDING OUT THERE SOMEWHERE WAITING TO SEE ME.
SO THOSE WERE THE SORT OF DREAMS I HAD.
AND FORTUNATELY, I NEVER HAD TO WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT IT EXCEPT ONE TIME THE KEEPER GOOFED AND DID NOT SECURE BUSHMAN'S CAGE PROPERLY DURING THE DAY NOT AT NIGHT.
AND WORD CAME TO MY OFFICE BUSHMAN'S OUT.
AND THAT WAS A VERY DRAMATIC MOMENT TO ME AND WE FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD BEEN PLAYED WITH THROUGH THE BACK AREAS BY THE KEEPERS WITH SNAKES AND SO I SAID GO TO THE REPTILE HOUSE AND GET GARDINER SNAKES AND WE SHOWED THEM TO BUSHMAN UNDER THE DOORWAY AND HE WALKED BACK INTO HIS CANING AND WE SECURED IT AND ALL WAS WELL.
>> YOU WERE LUCKY THEN I UNDERSTAND THAT GORILLAS ESCAPED FROM THEIR ENCLOSURES FOUR TIMES.
IN 1985 AT CHANNEL 2, I COVERED THE ESCAPE OF A GORILLA NAMED OTTO.
HOW WAS IT THAT GORILLAS WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR ENCLOSURES?
>> OTTO WAS A VERY INTERESTING ANIMAL BECAUSE MY PARENTS WERE FRIENDS OF OTTO KEARNER WHO WAS THEN GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I NAMED THAT PARTICULAR YOUNGSTER AT THAT TIME OTTO AND HE GOT OUT NOT FROM THE INSIDE BUILDING AREA.
HE WAS IN AN OUTSIDE YARD AND HE SCALED THE WALL SOMEHOW.
AND THEY HAVE PICTURES OF ME RUNNING TOWARD HIM OUTSIDE THERE AND HIM RUNNING TOWARD ME.
AND WE HAD KIND OF A STAND OFF AND AGAIN, BY SHEAR GOOD LUCK WE HAVE THE CAPTURE GUNS IN THOSE DAYS WHERE YOU COULD DART AN ANIMAL WITH AN ANESTHETIC AND WE SHOT OTTO WITH THAT AND PUT HIM BACK IN HIS CAGE.
>> YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN REENVISIONS WHAT A ZOO COULD BE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS WHEN HE GOT THERE YOU CAME TO THINK OF THE ENCLOSURES AS JAIL CELLS FOR ANIMALS BUT YOU TRANSFORM TO DO INTO MORE OF AN OPEN AREA, MORE NATURAL.
DID YOU HAVE FOR WANT OF A BETTER TERM AN AHA MOMENT WHEN YOU DECIDED THINGS HAVE GOT TO CHANGE?
>> MY AHA MOMENT WAS THE DAY I SAT IN MY NEW OFFICE AND THOUGHT A LITTLE ABOUT IT.
AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE ZOO'S OF 50 AND 100 YEARS AGO WERE SPARSE AND THE REASON WAS HYGIENIC.
IT WAS EASY TO HOSE A CAGE OUT SO THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE CAGE EXCEPT THE SHELF FOR THE ANIMAL TO SIT ON AND PEOPLE TO COME AND LOOK.
AND IT STRUCK ME THAT THIS WAS NOT THE BEST THING TO DO WITH THE ANIMALS.
AND SO WE DECIDED THAT ONE OF OUR EARLY GOALS WOULD BE TO MAKE LIFE MORE MEANINGFUL FOR THE ANIMAL AND WE DECIDED TO HAVE LESS KINDS OF ANIMALS, LESS SPECIES AND WE WOULD GIVE FEWER ANIMALS MORE SPACE.
SO THAT WAS KIND OF A GOAL AND WE WORKED TOWARD THAT.
>> YOU BECAME A WRITER ON TV AS WE MENTIONED ON WGN WE SAW STILL PICTURES OF YOU APPEARING ON CHANNEL 9.
LET'S LOOK AT A CLIP.
>> DAVID BROUGHT GEOFFREY.
>> GEOFFREY?
>> THIS IS GEOFFREY.
>> FULL OF ANIMALS ON THE FIRST DAY I CANNOT BELIEVE IT.
GEOFFREY.
>> WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU CALL A HANDSOME BOY LIKE THIS?
>> CHARLIE OR SOMETHING.
>> HE IS REALLY A SWEET ANIMAL AND HE IS ONE OF THE HANDABLE SNAKES HE IS A JOY TO HAVE BECAUSE HE HELPS GIVE PEOPLE IN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH SNAKES.
>> AS YOU LOOK BACK AT THOSE EXPERIENCES AND LOOK BACK AT YOUR LIFE I'M SURE PEOPLE ASKED YOU HAVING TURNED 100 IS THERE A SECRET TO LONGEVITY?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW OF A SECRET, IS JUST GOOD GENES, BOTH OF MY PARENTS LIVED TO BE IN THEIR 80s AND 90s.
AND SOME GOOD NUTRITION AND A LOT OF GOOD SUPPORT FROM MY PARENTS FROM FRIENDS, FROM CAREGIVERS FROM DOCTORS, I THINK IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT MIX OF THAT AND A LITTLE LUCK GOING IN YOU TOO, MAY BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DID.
REACH 100.
>> AND AGAIN THAT WAS PHIL PONCE WITH Dr. LESTER FISHER.
LONG TIME DIRECTOR OF LINCOLN PARK ZOO WHO DIED LAST WEEK AT 100 YEARS OLD.
>> WELL FROM A STUDIO ON WESTERN AVENUE AN ARTIST CREATES WORK THAT REFLECTS BOTH THE BEAUTY OF NATURE AND THE GRIT OF THE CITY.
HE MAY BE ONE OF CHICAGO'S MOST PROMINENT ARTISTS TONY FITZPATRICK GREW UP IN LOMBARD.
HE IS BACK FOR THE FINAL MUSEUM SHOW.
MARC VITALI MET UP WITH THE ARTIST IN HUMBOLDT PARK.
>> GET HERE IN THE MORNING BEFORE THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS YOU JUST LISTEN TO THE MUSIC OF THE BIRDS.
TREE BRANCHES.
THE WIND.
NATURE WILL HEAL YOU IF YOU LET IT.
>> THE NATURAL WORLD AN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT SHARE THE STAGE IN AN EXHIBITION THAT FEATURES BIRDS, REAL AND IMAGINED.
>> I WAS REALLY INFORMED BY BELIEVE IT OR NOT RELIGIOUS ART WHEN I WAS A KID.
I GREW UP IN A CATHOLIC FAMILY.
I HAVE FIVE SISTERS AND TWO BROTHERS MANY AND MY FATHER WAS IN THE FUNERAL BUSINESS.
SO YOU KNOW THEY WOULD HAVE MASS CARDS HOLY CARDS THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THE PICTURES THAT JUST GOT TO ME.
THAT AND THE COMICS DICK TRACY, I STARTED DRAWING AT A YOUNG AGE.
THE NUNS USED TO TELL MY MOTHER EVERYTHING IS FINE UNTIL HE GOES OFF IN TONY WORLD.
I WAS IN CHARGE THERE.
>> HIS WORKS ARE LAYERED COLLAGE PIECES AND THAT LAYERERRING CONTAINS DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT REPLICATES THE LAYERING YOU EXPERIENCE IN THE CITY.
THE CULTURES AND PTD THE SOUNDS AND THE SNIPPETS OF POET TARIFF LANG.
>> I LIKE THAT.
LOOK AT THAT.
>> AN ARTIST, TONY FITZPATRICK WORKS WITH A SMALL TEAM OF ASSISTANTS OFTEN YOUNG ARTISTS THEMSELVES HIS BIG BREAK CAME IN 1989 WHEN HE DESIGNED AN ALBUM COVER FOR THE NEFVILLE BROTHERS.
>> I WAS TRYING TO BE FOUND GUILTY.
>> FITZPATRICK IS AN INDEMAND ACTOR FROM PATRIOT TO PLAYING THE CHICAGO POLICE CHIEF IN CHI-RAQ AND A POET AND PLAYWRIGHT.
CURIOUS.
I LIKE TO THINK I LEARN FROM EVERYTHING I LOOK AT.
AND I DIDN'T GO TO ART SCHOOL.
I WENT TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR A LITTLE BIT.
MY EDUCATION CAME VIA THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO.
THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART.
PEOPLE ARE LIKE WELL YOU NEVER WENT TO SCHOOL.
I HAD THE BEST TEACHERS IN THE WORLD.
>> HIS SHOW IS CALLED JESUS OF WESTERN AVENUE.
IT'S AT THE CLEAVE CARNEY MUSEUM OF ART ON THE CAMPUS OF THE COLLEGE OF DUPAGE.
CLEAVE CARNEY WAS AN ARTS ADVOCATE AND COLLECTOR OF FITZPATRICK'S WORK.
HE PROCLAIMED THIS HIS FINAL MUSEUM SHOW.
>> IT'S TIME FOR PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME TO GET OUT OF THE WAY.
AND CREATE INSTITUTIONAL WALL SPACE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HAD A LIGHT SHINE ON THEM.
>> THERE'S 90 WORKS HE WAS LIKE I'M GOING TO DO 60 AND THEN 70 AND 80 AND 90 WORKS AND MOST WAS MADE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
>> YOU ONLY GET ONE RIDE AND IT'S THE END OF THE DITCH.
THERE IS A POEM WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS ONE PRECIOUS LIFE?
I CHOSE THIS.
IT'S EVOLVED OVER 45 YEARS.
I STILL ENJOY DOING THIS EVERYDAY.
I STILL ENJOY MAKING ART LARGELY ABOUT CHICAGO A LOT ABOUT NATURE.
I'VE BECOME AN ACTIVIST FOR BIRD LIFE.
MY GRANDMOTHER WHO COULD NOT TELL YOU A CARDINAL FROM A BLUE JAY EVERY MORNING SHE WOULD TOAST A PUMP PIECES OF BREAD AND SPREAD JELLY ON IT AND CHOP IT UP AND THROW IT OUT TO THE BIRDS.
AND I'M ONE OF EIGHT KIDS.
AND WE NEVER WASTED FOOD.
I SAID WHY ARE YOU GIVING OUR BREAD TO THE BIRDS?
AND SHE GOES DO ME A FAVOR BE QUIET AND GIVE YOUR EARS A CHANCE AND OPENS THE WINDOW AND I HEARD IT.
I HEARD SWALLOWS AND BLACKBIRDS AND MORNING DOVES AND THIS SHE SAID YOU KNOW, BIRDS ARE THE FIRST MUSIC THE IRISH EVER HAD.
AND SHE SAID IF YOU'RE QUIET AND IF YOU WATCH FOR A PIECE OF BREAD YOU CAN HEAR GOD SING.
>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.
>> AND THE EXHIBITION IS AT THE CLEAVE CARNEY MUSEUM OF ART AT THE CAMPUS OF THE COLLEGE OF DUPAGE.
IT IS FREE BUT YOU MUST REGISTER FOR A TICKET.
WATCH FOR HIS ENCOUNTER WITH THE STUDS TURKELL.
AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP.
>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.
STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.
AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube, AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.
>> AND YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.
AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.
THE LATEST ON A SURGE IN COVID CASES IN CHICAGO AND ACROSS ILLINOIS.
>> AND THE AMAZING STREET PHOTOGRAPHY OF VIVIAN MEYER A NEW BOOK AIMS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT HER MYSTERIOUS LIFE.
FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.
>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
[♪♪♪]