[♪♪♪]

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO

"THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS

SCHUTZ.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY OUR "THE

WEEK IN REVIEW" GUESTS IN JUST A

MOMENT BUT FIRST, SOME OF

TODAY'S TOP STORIES...

>> LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE

REASSURING PARENTS SCHOOLS ARE

SAFE FOLLOWING A SPADE OF

THREATS ON TIKTOK.

C.P.S. AND OTHER DISTRICTS SENT

MESSAGES SAYING THERE ARE NO

CREDIBLE THREATS AFTER TROUBLING

TIKTOK VIRAL CAMPAIGNS PROMOTING

VIOLENCE AT SCHOOLS WENT PUBLIC

TODAY.

AT THE SAME TIME THE SCHOOL

DISTRICTS SAY THEY ARE

CONDUCTING THREAT ASSESSMENTINGS

AND TAKING ALL PRECAUTIONS TO

KEEP STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SAFE.

MORE IN A MOMENT.

>> A SLIGHT DIP IN COVID CASES

AFTER THE STATE SAW 12,000 CASES

THURSDAY THE HIGHEST DAILY STATE

TOTAL OF THE YEAR.

10700 CASES WERE REPORTED TODAY

WITH 52 DEATHS AS

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE RISING AND

COOK COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH

OFFICIALS ARE URGING ALL

BUSINESSES TO REQUIRE PROOF OF

VACCINATION FOR ENTRY.

THE C.D.C. RECOMMENDED SCHOOLS

EMPLOY A COVID TEST TO STAY

POLICY MODELED AFTER A PROGRAM

CREATED IN ILLINOIS.

AND MORE ON THIS IN A BIT AS

WELL.

>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNS

A BILL REPEALING PARENTAL

NOTIFICATION FOR ABORTION IN

ILLINOIS IT WILL NOT REQUIRE

MINORS TO NOTIFY A PARENT OR A

LEGAL GUARDIAN.

SOME DECRY THE FACT IT STRIPS

PARENTS THE RIGHT TO KNOW IF A

CHILD IS SEEKING ABORTION.

IT HAD BEEN AND THE BOOKS SINCE

1995.

TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW"

PANEL JOINING US ARE SARAH

SCHULTE OF ABC7 NEWS, ALEX

NITKIN OF THE DAILY LINE, DAVE

SCHAPER OF NPR AND LAURA

WASHINGTON OF THE "CHICAGO

SUN-TIMES" AND AB7 NEWS.

>> ALEX NITKIN IT FEELS LIKE

DEJA VU 12,000 CASES.

DO YOU BELIEVE IT IS A MATTER OF

TIME BEFORE MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT

ANNOUNCES A MANDATORY

VACCINATION POLICY FOR ANYONE

THAT WANTS TO ENJOY AN INDOOR

ACTIVITY IN CHICAGO?

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT MAYOR

LIGHTFOOT IS GOING TO DO.

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN NEW YORK

ANNOUNCED THE VACCINATION

MANDATE AND SHE SAID NO WE'RE

NOT DOING IT.

AS RECENTLY AS WEDNESDAY SHE

SAID STAY TUNED THERE ARE

MITIGATIONS WE MIGHT BE

ANNOUNCING.

WE HAVE TO WATCH AND IT'S

IMPORTANT TO NOTE TODAY OR

YESTERDAY WE GOT BACK ABOVE A

THOUSAND AVERAGE DAILY NEW

CASES.

WE HAVE THAT SEEN NUMBERS LIKE

THAT SINCE THIS PAST JANUARY AND

YOU MENTIONED THE COOK COUNTY

HEALTH ADVISORY IT'S STARTING TO

FEEL FOR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS

WE ARE HEADING FOR A HURRICANE

TELLING EVERYONE TO BATON DOWN

THE HATCHES AND TRY TO AVOID

CONGREGATE SETTINGS.

>> IT FEELS LIKE THAT.

SARAH SCHULTE YOU HAVE A RECORD

NUMBER OF CASES THIS YEAR AND

THE OMICRON VARIANT STILL REALLY

HASN'T SPREAD ITS WAY AROUND

CHICAGO YET AND THAT IS A FASTER

SPREADING VARIANT AND YOU GOT

ALL THE GATHERINGS OVER THE

HOLIDAYS.

YOU SPOKE WITH Dr. FAUCI

TODAY.

IS THIS A PERFECT STORM?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS AND I THINK

Dr. FAUCI SAYS YOU HAVE TO

LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN NEW

YORK AND PROBABLY WHAT IS GOING

ON WILL BE REPLICATED AROUND THE

COUNTRY BEFORE WE KNOW IT.

YOU KNOW IN NEW YORK CASES HAVE

TRIPLED I THINK IN THE PAST

WEEK.

BROADWAY SHOWS ARE BEING

CANCELED.

AND THEY ARE FULLY EXPECTING

SIMILAR SCENARIOS IN PLACES

AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> WHAT ABOUT C.P.S., LAURA

WASHINGTON?

WE MENTIONED THE THE C.D.C.

RECOMMENDING A TEST TO STAY

POLICY.

IS THERE A PROTOCOL IN PLACE FOR

C.P.S.?

>> THAT'S UNCLEAR.

C.P.S. HAS NOT BEEN AS

FORTHCOMING AS YOU WOULD EXPECT

GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING

ABOUT THE BURGEONING NUMBER OF

CASES.

AND WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING WHEN

I HEAR PARENTS TALK ABOUT THIS

THEY DON'T FEEL THEY ARE GETTING

ENOUGH INFORMATION AND THEY

DON'T FEEL THERE'S CONSISTENCY

IN THE POLICY IN TERMS OF HOW

IT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTING ACROSS

THE BOARD.

>> I TALKED TO THE C.E.O.

YESTERDAY AND THE ONLY THING

THEY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS THEY

ARE SENDING HOME 150,000 TESTS

TO STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS WITH LOW

VACCINATION RATES AND HIGH

NUMBER OF CASES.

AND THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT

THIS IS THEY ARE EXPECTING THESE

STUDENTS TO TAKE THE TEST ALL ON

THE SAME DAY DECEMBER 28TH.

AND THEN EXPECTING THEIR

FAMILIES TO DROP THEM OFF AT A

FEDEX BOX THE SAME DAY.

C.P.S. IS SUPPOSED TO ANNOUNCE

MORE DROP-OFF LOCATIONS THAT MAY

BE MORE CONVENIENT THAN A FEDEX

BOX BUT THAT IS THE ONLY THING

THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW IN PLACE.

AND YOU KNOW, I ASKED THE C.E.O.

DO YOU FULLY EXPECT SOME OF

THESE PARENTS TO ACTUALLY TRY TO

FIND A FEDEX BOX TO DROP THE

TESTS OFF ALL ON THE SAME DAY?

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE

THE COMPLIANCE OF THOSE 150,000

TESTS.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE A COMING

HURRICANE THAT IS CATCHING A LOT

OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS OFF GUARD.

DAVE SCHAPER KNOWING WHAT IS

HAPPENING, WOULD IT CAUSE YOU TO

PERHAPS RETHINK HOLIDAY PLANS AS

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE PLANNING

TO GET TOGETHER IN CLOSE

SETTINGS?

>> I DEFINITELY THINK A LOT OF

PEOPLE SHOULD REEVALUATE THEIR

PLANS.

LARGE GROUPS GATHERING INDOORS.

IT'S GETTING COLDER OUT AND

PEOPLE WILL BE WANTING TO BE

INDOORS, I THINK LAST YEAR WE

HAD A WARMER CHRISTMAS SO PEOPLE

COULD GET OUTSIDE.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ITCHING TO GET

TOGETHER IN A BIG FAMILY

GATHERING.

WE SAW THANKSGIVING WAS THE

FIRST BURST AND I THINK A LOT OF

PEOPLE WERE THINKING UNTIL THE

OMICRON VARIANT BECAME KNOWN,

FINALLY THIS CHRISTMAS WE COULD

HAVE A NORMAL CHRISTMAS.

AND SO IT REALLY COULD SEE A

BIG, BIG INCREASE IN CASES.

AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT AIRLINES,

AIRPORTS, ALL THE TRAVEL

ANALYSTS I'VE BEEN TALKING TO

ARE EXPECTING BIG CROWDS AT THE

AIRPORTS AND CROWDED PLANES.

PEOPLE WANT TO TRAVEL THEY WILL

BE TRAVELING FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

PROBABLY FOR THE FULL TWO-WEEK

PERIOD.

AND THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR

THE VIRUS TO SPREAD FURTHER.

>> I THINK THAT DAVID NAIL IT IS

WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT PEOPLE ARE

ITCHING TO GET OUT.

THERE IS MASSIVE COVID FATIGUE

THOUGH OMICRON IS CLEAR IT IS

HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND BLOWING UP

AND PEOPLE ARE HITTING THE WALL

PARTICULARLY AROUND THE HOLIDAYS

THEY ARE NOT WILLING OR REFUSING

TO HUNKER DOWN FOR ANOTHER

SECOND YEAR OF THE HOLIDAYS

ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOLIDAYS

COMING.

AND IT'S VERY HARD TO CONVINCE

PEOPLE ESPECIALLY PEOPLE THAT

FEEL LIKE WE GOT VACCINATED AND

THE BOOSTERS AND WE STILL CAN'T

HAVE A SEMI NORMAL LIFE?

PEOPLE ARE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT

THAT AT THIS POINT.

>> WHAT DOES Dr. FAUCI SAY YOU

ARE ONLY PROTECTED AGAINST

OMICRON IF YOU ARE BOOSTED AND

IT'S ONLY AGAINST SEVERE

DISEASE?

>> CORRECT.

YOU ARE PROTECTED WITH THE TWO

DOSES, TOO.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT WE DO NEED

TO STRESS THAT.

IS THAT DEFINITELY PROTECTED

WITH THE TWO DOSES.

BUT A BOOSTER GIVES YOU A HIGHER

LEVEL OF IMMUNITY.

THEY ARE DEFINITELY EXPECTING A

LOT OF BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS AND THIS

IS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NEW YORK

CITY IF THERE'S AN UPSIDE THEY

ARE NOT GETTING AS MANY

HOSPITALIZATIONS BECAUSE OF ALL

THE BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

IT'S REALLY JUST A COLD OR A

MILD ILLNESS IT IS NOT SENDING

PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITALS.

CRIME IS PERM IT'S STREET-LEVEL

ON MICHIGAN AVENUE, IN

NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE MIDDLE OF

THE DAY AND I THINK THAT THAT IS

TAKEN THE ATTITUDE AND TAKEN THE

FEAR OF CRIME TO A WHOLE NEW

LEVEL AND WHEN YOU SEE A CHICAGO

POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT SEEMS TO

BE TRYING TO DO ITS BEST BUT THE

RESPONSE IS CANCEL OFFICERS

HOLIDAYS CANCEL DAYS OFF.

FLOOD THE STREETS WITH THEM.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT HAPPEN AND SEE

THE CRIME CONTINUING TO RISE IT

CREATES A LOT OF FEAR AND

FEELING LIKE WE HAVE NOWHERE TO

GO AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY

SOLUTIONS.

>> AND THE SENATE HELD A HEARING

IN CHICAGO ON THIS.

NO NEW OR CONCRETE SOLUTIONS

HERE.

LET'S MOVE ON TO OTHER CITY

COUNCIL NEWS.

ALDERPEOPLE APPROVED THE $3

MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH

ANJANETTE YOUNG FOR THE BOTCHED

POLICE RAID OF THE SOCIAL

WORKER'S HOME.

HERE IS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

>> UNANIMOUSLY.

WHICH RARELY HAPPENS ON MATTERS

OF SETTLEMENTS.

THE CITY COUNCIL AFFIRMED THE

AGREEMENT THAT HAD BEEN REACHED

WITH MS. YOUNG AND HER COUNSEL

TO PAY HER $2.9 PILL.

>> AND ALEX NITKIN THE LAW FIRM

RELEASED A REPORT THAT THE MAYOR

COMMISSIONED HOW THE OFFICE

HANDLED THE AFTERMATH OF

ANJANETTE YOUNG HOW DID THAT GO?

>> THE HEADLINE WAS THE MAYOR

DID NOT INTENTIONALLY CONCEAL

ANY INFORMATION ABOUT ANJANETTE

YOUNG WHEN IT HAPPENED.

THERE WAS SUBJECT OF THE

CRITICISM SHE HAD TAKEN OVER

WHETHER SHE HAD KNOWN ABOUT IT

AT THE TIME THAT SHE HAD FIRED

HER COUNSEL.

IT DID EXPOSE CRACKS AND FLAWS

AND MISCOMMUNICATIONS IN

WATCHDOG REPORTS ABOUT THE

ADMINISTRATION OR THE CITY THAT

OBVIOUSLY THAT THE CHICAGO

DEPARTMENT OF LAW HAD BEEN SORT

OF OVERZEALOUS IN THE SANCTIONS

IT WAS PURSUING FOR TRYING TO

GET ACCESS TO THE FOOTAGE OF HER

OWN EXPERIENCE AND THEN EXPOSE

THAT TO THE WORLD.

SO IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A

MIXED BAG AND EXPOSED A LOT OF

FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM THAT LED TO

THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE BUT DID

NOT FIND INTENTIONAL [AUDIO

INTERRUPTION].

>> AND EXPOSED THE FLESSNER

WROTE A SCATHING EDITORIAL

CALLING THE MAYOR PETTY SAYING

HER TERM HAS BEEN A FAILURE.

WHAT IS BEHIND THAT RIFT?

>> RIGHT.

I MEAN THE MAYOR WAS ASKED ABOUT

THIS THIS WEEK AND SAID

BASICALLY SHE HAD FIRED HIM FOR

HIS RESIGNATION SHE LOST ALL

FAITH IN HIM RELATED TO THIS

INVESTIGATION AND RELATED TO THE

INTERPLAY BETWEEN CITY ATTORNEYS

AND MS. YOUNG AND HER ATTORNEY.

THE LAW DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN

TRYING TO RETALIATE AGAINST MS.

YOUNG FOR TRYING TO GET THIS

INFORMATION AND THAT HE WAS

ESSENTIALLY DISPARAGING HER IN

PUBLIC AND SAID SHE COULDN'T

STAND FOR THAT AND LOST HIS

TRUST AND CUT HIM LOOSE.

SHE DID NOT SPEAK SPECIFICALLY

TO THE KITCHEN SINK OF CRITICISM

SHE LEVIED --

THAT HE LEVIED AGAINST HER ABOUT

DEALING WITH POLICE AND SCHOOLS

BUT LIKE WE'VE SEEN IN A LOT OF

SITUATIONS WITH THIS SITUATION

THIS MAYOR BEING --

PEOPLE BEING CUT LOOSE AND HAVE

GRIPES THEY SHARE LATER.

>> AND THIS WEEK, SPORTS BETTING

IS APPROVED AT PLACES LIKE

WRIGLEY, THE UNITED CENTER.

DAVE SCHAPER ARE WE GOING TO

ANTICIPATE YOU AT ONE OF THESE

VENUES BETTING ON WHETHER OR NOT

THE PITCHER ROLLS THE BALL UNDER

THE MOUND BETWEEN INNINGS?

>> I WILL BE ROLLING THE DICE

WHETHER IT IS A STRIKE OR A

BALL.

IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE OF THINK OF

YEARS AGO WHEN PEOPLE USED TO BE

THROWING CASH AROUND BETTING ON

EVERY PITCH IN THE BLEACHERS,

AND IT'S YOU KNOW BRINGING THIS

OUT INTO THE OPEN I THINK IS

BEEN THAT DIRTY SECRET FOREVER

THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GAMBLING

ON SPORTS.

HAVING IT LEGAL NOW, HAVING IT

ON-LINE NOW, HAVING PARLORS AT

THE BALL PARKS AND THE OTHER

STADIUMS, I THINK IT IS

PROGRESSION.

I DON'T THINK THE CITY COULD

HAVE STOPPED THIS STEAMROLLER.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE

HOW CLOSELY IT'S REGULATED AND

WHERE THINGS MIGHT GO AWRY.

IF IT AFFECTS THE PLAY ON THE

FIELD WHICH I THINK IT'S ONLY

PROBABLY A MATTER OF TIME.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS HERE

TO STAY AND I THINK THE CITY

WANTS TO CASH IN ON IT.

>> ASK PETE ROSE THAT MIGHT BE

TEMPTING IF HE WERE MANAGING OR

PLAYING IN THIS ERA.

WITH CASINOS, ALEX NITKIN, THE

CITY COUNCIL HEARD MORE ABOUT

THE FIVE PROPOSALS.

LET'S LOOK AT THE MAP WHERE SOME

OF THESE PROPOSED CASINOS WOULD

GO.

DID WE LEARN ANYTHING NEW AND

DOES ANYONE HAVE A LEG UP?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS A

LEG UP.

WE SAW A LOT VERY FLASHY

PRESENTATIONS.

I THINK ONE HAD PITCHED IT AS

THE NEW EIFFLE TOWER OF CHICAGO

IN THE McDORM PLACE LAKESIDE

CENTER.

WHAT WE SAW IS TAKE DIGS AT EACH

OTHER TO GIVE THEMSELVES A LEG

UP.

WE SAW RUSH STREET GAMING MORE

ESTABLISHED WAS SAYING WE DON'T

NEED ON THE JOB TRAINING WE ARE

NOT NOVICE'S A KNOCK AT BALLY'S

AND SAID WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE

LOCATIONS WE CAN PUT ALL OF OUR

ATTENTION HERE IN CHICAGO.

WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF THAT

JOCKEYING.

AND INTERESTING COMMENT FROM THE

PUBLIC SAYING I'M CONCERNED

ABOUT HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO

DO FOR THE CITY AND TRAFFIC AN

INDICATION OF THE NEXT STAGE HAS

TO GET THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL

AND MAKE IT THROUGH THE PUBLIC

LENS OF NEIGHBORS AND PEOPLE WHO

ARE WONDERING WHETHER THEY WANT

TO LIVE NEAR A CASINO.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO STATE

POLITICS.

BILLIONAIRE KEN GRIFFIN MADE A

SPLASH WITH RUMORS FLOATING HE

IS READY TO GIVE HUNDREDS OF

MILLIONS FOR ANYONE WILLING TO

TAKE ON J.B. PRITZKER AND A NAME

WAS MAYOR RICHARD IRVIN.

LAURA WASHINGTON, TELL US ABOUT

RICHARD IRVIN.

>> RICHARD IRVIN IS IN HIS

SECOND TERM AS AURORA MAYOR.

SAID TO BE VERY FAIRLY POPULAR

AND RESPECTED AS A MAYOR.

HE HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND

ADVOCATE ON FIGHTING COVID.

HE'S SAID TO BE I HAVE NOT MET

HIM PERSONALLY, SAID TO BE

CHARISMATIC.

IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND COMES

FROM A POOR BACKGROUND.

HAS A MILITARY BACKGROUND.

COULD BE SOMEONE THAT COULD LOOK

GOOD TO A KEN GRIFFIN.

KEN GRIFFIN IS SAID TO BE

PLANNING ON SPENDING BIG TIME

MONEY AND SAID HE WANTS TO TAKE

ON J.B. PRITZKER AND PUT ALL OF

HIS MONEY BEHIND THAT ONE FIGURE

UP TO $300 MILLION WHICH WOULD

GIVE A J.B. PRITZKER A RUN FOR

HIS MONEY.

IRVIN IS DENYING THAT HE IS

INTERESTED RIGHT NOW.

HE DENIED IT EARLIER THIS YEAR

THAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN

RUNNING.

BUT YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES WITH

POLITICS.

MINDS CAN CHANGE AND I DON'T

EXPECT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN

ANNOUNCEMENT UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

>> AND PARTIES CAN CHANGE, AS I

UNDERSTAND IRVIN VOTED IN

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES.

I'VE INTERVIEWED HIM HIS

POSITIONS ON A LOT OF SOCIAL

ISSUES TENDED TO BE MORE IN LINE

WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WOULD

THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR HIM

TO GET THROUGH A REPUBLICAN

PRIMARY?

>> IT WOULD BE RED MEAT FOR THE

OUR FOUR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

WHO ARE OUT THERE.

I'M SURE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO

LAYOFF THAT.

YES, "THE SUN TIMES" RACHEL

RUBIN OF RAVEL HINTON REPORTED

HE HAS VOTED REPUBLICAN ONCE.

AND HE DOES HAVE FAIRLY MODERATE

PROGRESSIVE ISSUES IN TERMS OF

HIS POSITIONS.

SO, AGAIN THAT IS FODDER FOR HIS

OPPONENTS.

>> 300 MILLION BEHIND YOU MAYBE

YOU CAN CHANGE POSITIONS.

>> YOU CAN ERASE YOUR PAST AND

BUY NEW POSITIONS?

>> AND SARAH THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR

J.B. PRITZKER HAD TO TAMP DOWN

RUMORS HE WOULD BE A CONTENDER

SHOULD PRESIDENT BIDEN CHOOSE

NOT TO RUN IN 2024.

GOT ON A COUPLE OF LISTS.

DO YOU THINK IT IS A COINCIDENCE

OR ARE PEOPLE MAKING CALLS TO

NATIONAL PEOPLE WHY DON'T WE

TALK ABOUT PRITZKER?

>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY

KNOWS, NOTHING IS A COINCIDENCE.

NO, I THINK THEY ARE FLOATING

HIS NAME AND SEEING LIKE IT GOES

IN POLITICS.

YOU GET A LITTLE PUBLICITY

SOMEBODY THROWS YOUR NAME OUT

AND YOU DENY YOU ARE GOING TO

RUN.

>> IT DOESN'T HURT EITHER EVEN

IF YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS, IF YOU

WANT TO BE MENTIONED ESPECIALLY

IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA AS A

POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER.

AND HE IS NOT GOING TO RUN IF

JOE BIDEN RUNS.

BUT HE DID NOT RUN HE SETUP WELL

FOR NEXT TIME.

>> RIGHT, I THINK THE RUMOR WAS

FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES".

>> "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AND CNN.

BUT IT MIGHT HELP HIM IN HIS

RACE FOR REELECTION IN ILLINOIS

GIVING HIM THE APPEARANCE OF

MORE GRAVITAS.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO THE TRAGIC

STORMS THAT RAVAGED THROUGH DOWN

STATE AND KENTUCKY.

DAVID, YOU SPENT THE WEEK IN

KENTUCKY.

GIVE US A SENSE OF THE SCOPE OF

THE DEVASTATION?

>> I COVER QUITE A FEW OF THESE

OVER THE YEARS AND I DON'T KNOW

I'VE SEEN DEVASTATION QUITE THIS

BAD.

THIS IS WAS SUCH A POWERFUL

STORM IT WAS ON THE GROUND FOR

WELL OVER 200 MILES SOMETHING

LIKE MAYBE 250 MILES WHEN YOU

ADD IN MISSISSIPPI AND ARKANSAS

AND 10.

BEFORE IT JUST STORMED RIGHT

THROUGH KENTUCKY.

THE PATH WENT RIGHT THROUGH THIS

SMALL CITY, MAYFIELD, 10,000

PEOPLE.

HOMES WERE JUST SHREDDED, RIPPED

APART.

IT IS NOT COMPLETELY FLATTENED

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST

EVERYTHING.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD

FOR THE SMALL TOWNS IN WESTERN

KENTUCKY TO RECOVER FROM THIS.

SO MANY PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE

INSURANCE AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE

LOW INCOME TO BEGIN WITH AND

LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

TALK ABOUT SAVING UP MONEY TO

REBUILD IS REALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU HAD TWO OF THE BIGGEST

EMPLOYERS IN TOWN, BOTH THE

CANDLE FACTORY AND A CHICKEN

PROCESSING PLANT THAT WERE

FLATTENED.

YOU KNOW, NOT TO TALK ABOUT THE

LOSS OF LIFE THERE.

BUT SOME FOLKS MAY HAVE LOST

THEIR LIVELIHOOD AS WELL.

IT'S JUSTYNA FRANK SUCH POWERFUL

STORM.

SUCH INCREDIBLE DEVASTATION AND

FOLKS WHO DID NOT NEED THIS SORT

OF SMACKDOWN IF YOU WILL.

IT'S JUST REALLY DIFFICULT

THING.

>> THE PRESIDENT DID VISIT SOME

OF THE TOWNS DID YOU GET A SENSE

THERE WILL BE FEDERAL RELIEF TO

HELP THE HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESS

OWNERS REBUILD?

>> AGAIN, I'VE COVERED A LOT OF

THESE DISASTERS IN THE PAST AND

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE

HEARD PEOPLE PRAISING THE WORDS

FEMA AS OPPOSED TO CURSING IT.

FEMA WAS THERE RIGHT AWAY

STARTING WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE

TEAMS BE EMPLOYED BEFORE THE

PAPERWORK GOT PROCESSED TO SEND

THE TEAMS IN.

THEY HAD THE FEDERAL URBAN

SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS GOING

THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS OF DEBRIS

ESPECIALLY AT THAT ONE FACTORY.

I SAW FEMA TEAMS WALKING THROUGH

THE STREETS GOING FROM THE

REMNANTS OF ONE HOUSE TO ANOTHER

AS PEOPLE WERE OUT TRYING TO

CLEAN OUT AND PICK UP WHAT THEY

COULD.

FIND WHATEVER SALVAGEABLE

BELONGINGS THEY COULD.

AND THEY WERE TALKING TO PEOPLE

AND SAYING HERE IS THE PROCESS.

LEAFLETS HERE ARE THE WEBSITES.

CHECK IN AND CALL THIS NUMBER.

AND BY THE TIME I LEFT, I THINK

EVEN BY LATE THURSDAY THERE WAS

ALREADY MONEY GOING OUT FROM

FEMA TO INDIVIDUALS TO HELP THEM

WITH AT LEAST SOME PRIMARY

EXPENSES.

BUYING NECESSITIES, FOOD, WATER

AND GETTING TEMPORARY SHELTER.

>> AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT

WHAT HAPPENED IN EDWARDSVILLE

THAT AMAZON WAREHOUSE HALF

COLLAPSING.

SIX PEOPLE DEAD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK AN OSHA

INVESTIGATION INVESTIGATION

MIGHT UNCOVER?

>> I THINK THE OSHA

INVESTIGATION THERE AND SIMILAR

TO OSHA STARTED AN INVESTIGATION

WITH THE CANDLE FACTORY IN

MAYFIELD TO SEE IF EMPLOYEES

WERE BEING TOLD NOT TO LEAVE.

WHAT INSTRUCTIONS DID THEY GET

ONCE THEY KNEW THE TORNADO WAS

BEARING DOWN.

IF THEY HAVE SHELTER IN THE

BUILDING?

COULD THEY GO SOMEWHERE WHERE

THEY COULD HUNKER DOWN AND BE

SAFE?

THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY WAS

TALKING ABOUT HOW JUST

INCREDIBLY POWERFUL THE STORM

WAS NOT SURE IF ANY INSTRUCTIONS

WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

THE BUILDING IN EDWARDSVILLE

SEEMS DIFFERENT.

THE BUILDINGS AROUND IT ARE

STANDING AND THIS IS CHOPPED IN

HALF AND THERE ARE A LOT OF

QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT THE

QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION, THE

BUILDING STANDARDS A LOT OF THE

WAREHOUSES POPPING UP ALL OVER

THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE

OF BIG CITIES LIKE ST. LOUIS,

THAT THE BUILDINGS ARE GOING UP

QUICK AND WHAT STANDARDS ARE

THEY HELD TO.

>> I WILL THROW THIS OUT TO

ANYBODY.

YOU ARE NOT HEARING MUCH FROM

JEFF BEZOS TALKING ABOUT ONE OF

HIS SPACE ROCKETS.

ANYONE FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN BUT

IS THAT TONE DEAF HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY, COMPLETELY TONE

DEAF.

IT'S AMAZING TO ME.

BUT MY OPINION.

>> I THINK IT'S PROBABLY AN

OPINION THAT IS A

NONCONTROVERSIAL OPINION AND

SHARED.

>> ANOTHER STICKY SITUATION ALEX

NITKIN A LONGTIME ALDERPERSON

FEDERALLY INDICTED CARRIE AUSTIN

COLLAPSED AT THE CITY COUNCIL

MEETING.

ANY UPDATE ON HER STATUS.

>> SHE WAS SLUMMING IN HER CHAIR

AND EVERYONE WAS CLEARED OUT OF

THE CHAMBER.

SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL

AND NOW HAS BEEN CLEARED AND SHE

IS OK.

SHE PARTICIPATED THIS MORNING IN

A CITY COUNCIL VIRTUAL COMMITTEE

HEARING.

AND HER COLLEAGUES WERE THERE

AND HAPPY TO SEE HER THERE.

AT THE SAME TIME THERE WAS A

HEARING IN HER ONGOING ABATEMENT

AND THE ATTORNEY WAS SAYING SHE

IS IN SUCH POOR HEALTH I DON'T

KNOW IF SHE CAN MAKE IT THROUGH

A CRIMINAL CASE YET SHE WAS

PARTICIPATING IN CITY COUNCIL

BUSINESS.

IT SEEMS LIKE SHE IS OK.

EVERYONE PULLING FOR HER.

BUT SHE CONTINUES TO HAVE THESE

LEGAL MATTERS SHE HAS TO WORK

THROUGH.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR

NOW.

OUR THANKS TO SARAH SCHULTE,

ALEX NITKIN, DAVE SCHAPER AND

LAURA WASHINGTON.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS

FRIDAY NIGHT.

YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT"

AND "THE WEEK IN REVIEW"

STREAMED ON FACEBOOK,

YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW

NIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. FOR "CHICAGO

TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT

"CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

AND WE'RE BACK AT 7:00 P.M. ALL

NEXT WEEK.

A NOTE BEFORE WE GO.

OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PROGRAM

IS OFF NEXT FRIDAY FOR THE

HOLIDAYS BUT WILL RETURN THE

FOLLOWING WEEK ON DECEMBER 31,

NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH A SPECIAL

LOOK BACK AT 2021.

FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M

PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE AND HAVE

A GREAT WEEKEND.