>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT", I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT -- >> TODAY THE POLICY INTEREST RATES WERE RAISED BY 75 BASIS POINTS.

>> THE FEDERAL RESERVE RAISES INTEREST RATES AGAIN BUT HINTS AT A POTENTIAL SLOWDOWN.

>>> WITH ELECTION DAY COUNTDOWN ON, LOOK AT SOME OF MOST HOTLY CONTESTED RACES.

>> IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE.

>> PLUS, SOME UNDER THE RADAR RACES THAT COULD BE CLOSE ON TUESDAY.

>>> CAN MODERATE REPUBLICANS STILL WIN IN ILLINOIS?

MAYOR GARY THINKS SO.

HE SHARES HIS THOUGHTS WITH US.

>>> HOSPITAL PATIENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE IN FOR WHEN IT COMES TO COSTS, BUT ARE HOSPITALS COMPLYING?

>>> AND IT'S ALSO THE RIGHT TIME IN HISTORY FOR US TO BE CONTEMPLATING THESE ISSUES WITH IMMIGRANTS.

>> AND A MUSICAL COLLABORATION TELLS A STORY OF THE IRISH SOLDIERS OF MEXICO.

>>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, STOCKS TUMBLED AFTER THE FEDERAL RESERVE MADE HISTORY WITH A FOURTH STRAIGHT HIKE.

THE DOW ENDED THE DAY MORE THAN 500 POINTS OR 1.6% DOWN.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE INTEREST RATE HIKE AND HOW IT COULD AFFECT YOUR WALLET IN JUST A MOMENT.

>>> A CHICAGO MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MAKING A GRAPHIC DEATH THREAT TO REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE DARREN BAILEY AND HIS FAMILY.

SCOTT, WHO DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS A POLITICAL TERRORIST, IS BEING CHARGED WITH FELONY COUNTS OF THREATENING A PUBLIC OFFICIAL AND HARASSMENT.

HE ALLEGEDLY LEFT A THREATENING VOICEMAIL TO BAILEY'S SPRINGFIELD OFFICE LAST WEEK, LEAVING THE CANDIDATE AND HIS FAM THROW REQUEST ADDITIONAL SECURITY.

BAILEY SAYS IN PART, WHETHER WE AGREE OR DISAGREE ON POLITICS, WE ARE ALL AMERICANS.

I PRAY THIS YOUNG MAN GETS THE HELP HE NEEDS.

WE MUST BRING OUR STATE TOGETHER AND FIGHT FOR THE SAFETY AND PROSPERITY OF EVERY ILLINOISAN.

>>> COMING TOGETHER TO VOICE SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS WOUNDED IN THIS WEEK'S MASS SHOOTING IN EAST GARFIELD PARK.

14 PEOPLE, INCLUDING THREE CHILDREN, WERE WOUNDED IN THE SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED HALLOWEEN NIGHT.

>> WE HAVE SPOKEN AND CONNECTED WITH THE VICTIMS.

TEN OF THEM WERE PART OF ONE FAMILY.

ONE PARENT EXPERIENCED INJURY AND TWO OF HER YOUNG CHILDREN, SO WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM ARE BEING RELEASED.

WE KNOW THAT ONE IS STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION AND THAT THERE ARE TWO OTHERS WHO ARE IN SERIOUS CONDITION.

SO YES, WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THOSE.

WE'VE OFFERED TO SUPPORT THEM IN ALL OF THE WAYS THAT THEY NEED.

>> POLICE SAY VICTIMS HAD BEEN GATHERED FOR A VIGIL WHEN TWO UNIDENTIFIED OCCUPANTS TRAVELLING IN A SUV STARTED SHOOTING.

WE'LL VISIT EAST GARFIELD PARK TOMORROW NIGHT AS PART OF OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES TO HEAR MORE ABOUT SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS AND ANTI-VIOLENCE EFFORTS.

>>> UP NEXT, WHAT THE LATEST FEDERAL RESERVE INTEREST RATE HIKE MEANS FOR YOU.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRIA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY MAEBE FAMILY, THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> BUYING A HOME OR FINANCING A CAR JUST GOT EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE NOW THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS ANNOUNCED YET ANOTHER INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES.

THIS ONE BY THREE QUARTERS OF A PERCENTAGE POINT.

SIT THE SIXTH INTEREST RATE HIKE THIS YEAR, ALL IN AN EFFORT TO SLOW DOWN INFLATION.

HERE TO DISCUSS THIS AND HOW THIS LATEST INCREASE COULD AFFECT YOU ARE JAMES BREWER, CEO AT INVASION WEALTH PLANNING, AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN FINANCIAL ADVISORS.

AND ED STEWART, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.

ED, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THIS MOVE BY THE FED?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT UNEXPECTED, ALTHOUGH I'M LESS A FAN OF THIS THAN OTHER ECONOMISTS AND FINANCIAL EXPERTS.

I SEE IT HAVING A REALLY DAMAGING EFFECT ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE U.S. POPULATION THAT DEPENDS ON CREDIT AND HAS MORE DEBTS THAN ASSETS.

IT'S DEFINITELY HURTING THE ABILITY OF FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS.

MY DADDY IN TEXAS WAS A HOME BUILDER, SO I'M ALWAYS ACUTELY AWARE OF INTEREST REALITY EFFECTS ON HOME BUILDING, AND NOT JUST HOME BUILDING, IT'S APPLIANCES, PLUMBING, FURNITURE, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO WITH IT, FURNISHING, EQUIPPING A NEW HOUSE.

AND I THINK WE'RE ALREADY SEEING SOME OF THAT IN THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING DROPPING IN SOME REAL ESTATE MARKETS, GETTING A LOT SOFTER.

SO I'M HOPING THAT THE FED, THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HINT, BRANDIS, THAT THEY MAY BE SLOWING DOWN.

I THINK THEY'VE DONE ENOUGH, AND I'D LIKE FOR THEM TO STOP.

>> AND I WANT TO COME BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID A SECOND AGO ABOUT THE IMPACT ON LOWER INCOME MEMBERS OF THE POPULATION.

JAMES, I WANT TO COME OVER TO YOU, WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF A RECESSION IF THE FED CONTINUES TO RAISE RATES.

>> WELL, I TRY TO NOT REALLY LOOK AT THE RECESSION SIDE, BUT OFTEN IT'S WHAT'S IN PEOPLE'S MINDS.

YOU KNOW, WE KEEP HEARING, WELL, ARE WE GOING INTO ONE, ARE WE GOING INTO ONE.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER TAKEN AN ECONOMICS CLASS LIKE WITH OUR PROFESSOR HERE.

SO THEY JUST HEAR THINGS AND START SEIZING.

I THINK WHAT GETS INTO THE MIND CAN CREATE RECESSION-LIKE BEHAVIOR EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT FULLY BE THERE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WITH THESE CONTINUED MOVES THAT IT'S JUST GETTING INTO THE PSYCHE OF PEOPLE.

>> AND JAMES, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THE FED WEIGH THE LIKELIHOOD OF A RECESSION AGAINST, YOU KNOW, THE RISK OF WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DON'T RAISE INTEREST RATES.

>> WELL -- AND I THINK THAT'S A BALANCING ACT.

YOU KNOW, I KIND OF LOOK AND SAY THAT WE HAD HISTORICALLY LOW RATES FOR A WHILE, TRYING TO CORRECT FOR WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE, QUOTE,UNQUOTE, LOST DECADE.

SOMETIMES CALLED THE GREAT RECESSION.

BUT PEOPLE THEN BEGAN TO THINK, OH, THIS IS HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO BE AND THEN OVER TIME STARTED THINKING, OH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LOW RATES.

AND YOU HAD NEW HOME BUYERS COME IN WHO BELIEVED THAT THE RATES WERE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THIS LOW, ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT EXACTLY HOW THINGS WERE.

SO YOU KNOW, I LOOK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT WE MADE SOME SMART MOVES TO STEM THE BIG PROBLEM THAT WE HAD WITH THE GREAT RECESSION, I'M JUST KIND OF CONCERNED ARE WE OVERCORRECTING TOO QUICKLY.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE -- MOST OF THOSE MINDS ARE STILL AROUND THAT WERE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS, SO HOPEFULLY THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO THE RIGHT DECISION.

IT'S JUST THAT THEY'VE GOT SOME FEARS OF THE GENERAL POPULATION GOING RIGHT NOW.

>> SO ED, BACK TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, HOW WILL AMERICANS BE IMPACTED DIFFERENTLY?

>> IT'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAVERS AND BORROWERS.

NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS HURT BY THE INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES BECAUSE THE STOCK MARKET IS, AS PARIS ALLUDED TO AT THE BEGINNING, HAS TAKEN QUITE A HIT IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND ALSO IF YOU'VE BEEN HOLDING BONDS, THOSE PRICES GO DOWN AS WELL.

BUT IF YOU'RE A VERY WEALTHY PERSON WITH A LOT OF CASH AND SHORT-TERM ASSETS, THEN INTEREST REALITIES GOING UP ARE GOING TO INCREASE YOUR INCOME AND MAKE YOU BETTER OFF.

FOR THE BOTTOM AT LEAST 50% OF THE U.S. POPULATION, WHICH HAS NO ASSETS AND BECAUSE OF HISTORICALLY LOW WAGES AND SLOW WAGE GROWTH HAS HAD TO DEPEND ON CREDIT TO GET BY MONTH TO MONTH, THIS INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES IS GOING TO DRIVE UP HARD RATES ALMOST -- AND AS THE PRIME RATE GOES UP AND YOUR CREDIT CARD RATE, YOUR PERSONAL LOAN RATE, YOUR AUTO LOAN, EVEN IF YOU'RE BUYING A USED CAR, IF YOU CAN FIND ONE THAT'S AFFORDABLE.

SO IT'S PUTTING A REAL FINANCIAL BURDEN ON SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE U.S. POPULATION.

>> JAMES, HOW SHOULD THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT SAID, HOW SHOULD THE AVERAGE CONSUMER WEATHER THESE HIKES?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT AS A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER I GOT TO PUT IN SOMETHING ABOUT PLANNING HERE.

SOMETIMES WHEN TIMES ARE BAD PEOPLE MIGHT START TO PLAN.

THESE ARE UNWANTED TIMES.

WE ALWAYS WANT THE GOOD TIMES TO ROLL.

BUT I THINK AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO START SAYING, OKAY, I NEED TO WORK ON HAVING SOMETHING THAT SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, I'M IN AN OKAY POSITION.

I THINK THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CAN I CONTROL MY CREDIT SPENDING.

I THINK THE PROFESSOR HIT SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT, AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HEARING THIS FOR A WHILE THAT INCOMES, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LORE PARTS OF THE POPULATION, HAVEN'T BEEN RISING AS FAST AS OTHER ASPECTS OF CERTAIN COSTS HAD BEEN RISING.

SO THAT HAS BEEN PUTTING A PINCH ON THEM.

BUT AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO START TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN I REALLY AFFORD.

BECAUSE I THINK SOME PEOPLE THAT POTENTIALLY WERE ALREADY OVEREXTENDED ARE JUST FINDING THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE AS COSTS RISE, AS THE COST OF CREDIT AND INTEREST RATES RISE.

BUT JUST SOME PLACE, YOU KNOW, YOU DO NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF PLAN THAT TRIES TO GET YOU BACK TO EVEN.

IT MAY NOT BE DURING, YOU KNOW, THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, BUT AT LEAST GET BACK TO EVEN WHEN WE GET OUT OF THESE, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATE OR UNWANTED TIMES.

>> PROBABLY SOME BELT TIGHTENING FOR FOLKS WHOSE BELTS ALREADY MAY BE A LITTLE BIT TAUT.

THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND A LOCAL POLITICIAN CALLING FOR MODERATE REPUBLICANS TO RAISE THEIR VOICES, PARIS?

>> BRANDIS, ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS USED TO BE OF A CERTAIN BRAND, FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE, SOCIALLY MODERATE TO EVEN LIBERAL.

KNOWN TO CUT DEALS REGULARLY WITH MEMBERS ACROSS THE POLITICAL AISLE.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SAYS THEY NEED TO LISTEN TO THOSE VOICES.

QUOTE, SOCIALLY MODERATE REPUBLICANS, STILL CONSERVATIVE AT THEIR FISCAL CORE MUST NOT -- TO TO HOLD OFFICE.

THIS WAS IN IN AN EDITORIAL IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE THIS MORNING.

JOINING US IS THE AUTHOR, GARY, MAYOR OF BURIDGE.

JED EDGAR, JUDY, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT BRAND OF REPUBLICAN IN ILLINOIS?

>> WE SHOUTED DOWN AND SHUNTED AWAY BECAUSE OF SOCIALLY FAR RIGHT CONSERVATIVE POLICIES THAT ACCEPT A WIDE RANGE OF VIEWS ANYMORE.

>> AND THINGS LIKE GUN RIGHTS, ABORTION RIGHTS, ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS, YOU BELIEVE SHOULD STAKE OUT A MORE MODERATE POSITION.

WHERE SHOULD THEY BE ON THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THEM, PARIS.

JUST DISCUSSING ABORTION, DISCUSSING GUN RIGHTS STILL I'M A REPUBLICAN.

BUT NOW THE FAR RIGHT SAYS NOW YOU'RE NOT REPUBLICAN.

THAT'S WRONG.

THAT'S THE WRONG WAY TO APPROACH IT.

ABORTION IN THIS STATE IS A POLITICAL REALITY.

LET'S TRY TO FIGHT THE 15 WEEKS PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.

LET'S CONSIDER NO FUNDING, NO STATE FUNDING, NO FEDERAL FUNDING.

SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I THINK OTHER PEOPLE WILL AGREE ON.

BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE CHOICE AWAY FROM A WOMAN, EVEN IF THAT WOMAN WOULDN'T CHOOSE ABORTION HERSELF.

THAT SHOULDN'T DIVIDE REPUBLICANS TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT WE HAVE FAR RIGHT CANDIDATE WHO IS CANNOT GET ELECTED IN THE GENERAL.

>> ON GUN RIGHTS, YOU SAY THERE SHOULD BE REASONABLE GUN RESTRICTIONS TALKED ABOUT.

>> CERTAINLY ABOUT SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPONS.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE JUST BE ABLE TO WALK IN AND GET A SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPON.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH A BACKGROUND CHECK?

WHAT'S WRONG WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CHECK?

WHAT'S WRONG WITH KNOWING WHY YOU NEED THAT GUN?

JUST TALKING ABOUT SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND SOME REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS IS NOT GOING TO DIMINISH THE SECOND AMENDMENT, AND PEOPLE SHOULD ALLOW THAT DISCUSSION TO GO FORWARD.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THIS LACK OF MODERATE VOICES IN THE PARTY MEANS THAT IT IS GOING TO COST YOUR PARTY SEATS IN I'LL SNIM.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY WILL.

I THINK WE'LL SEE THAT IN LESS THAN A WEEK AGAIN.

THERE'S AN OLD SAYING ABOUT TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS.

IT'S THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY.

I THINK ALBERT EINSTEIN.

AND I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN DOING THAT ELECTION AFTER ELECTION AFTER ELECTION.

AND WE SEE DIMINISHED POWER AT THE STATE LEVEL AND AT THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL.

WE'RE GOING TO LOSE ANOTHER CONGRESSIONAL SEAT AT LEAST THIS TIME AROUND.

>> THE TREND SEEMS TO BE IN ILLINOIS AND ELSEWHERE THAT THE MOST CONSERVATIVE VOICES WIN OUT IN THE PRIMARY.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ACTIVATE THE BASE.

AND THE MODERATE VOICES JUST DON'T EXCITE THE BASE.

YOU CAN'T WIN A PRIMARY THAT WAY, WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THAT'S A RULE, THAT'S THE PLAYBOOK FOR MOST REPUBLICANS.

I THINK THEY WANT TO GO AS FAR RIGHT AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK THAT'S UNFORTUNATE, WHICH IS WHY I WROTE THE ARTICLE THAT I WROTE TODAY.

MODERATE REPUBLICAN VOICES HAVE TO STAND UP.

THEY HAVE TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THAT IDEA AND SAY, LOOK, IT'S OKAY TO TALK ABOUT ABORTION.

IT'S OKAY TO TALK ABOUT GUN RIGHTS.

IT'S OKAY TO TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF THE FAR RIGHT.

>> I SHOULD JUMP IN AND SAY IN THE GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY, RICHARD URBAN WAS MORE OPAQUE ON THOSE ISSUES, I GUESS TRYING TO BRAND HIMSELF AS MORE OF A MODERATE.

HE CAME IN THIRD.

DARREN BAILEY, THE CONSERVATIVE, WON.

>> AND JESSE CAME IN SECOND, ANOTHER FAR RIGHT CONSERVATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO PLACING RELIGION IN GOVERNMENT, WHICH I FIRMLY DISAGREE WITH.

>> HOW DO YOU CHANGE THAT?

>> YOU'VE GOT TO GET MODERATE REPUBLICANS TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARIES.

THE BASE WILL GET EXCITED.

THE FAR RIGHT BASE WILL GET EXCITED AND COME OUT TO VOTE.

>> YOU ALSO SEE NATIONWIDE RIGHT NOW REPUBLICANS SEEMING TO GET AHEAD IF THEY'RE ELECTION DENIALISTS, IF THEY SAY TRUMP WON 2020, OBVIOUSLY, FALSE CLAIMS OF ELECTION FRAUD, IS THAT A GOOD DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PARTY, FOR THE NATION?

>> AS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S A GOOD DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK WE'VE GOT TO MOVE PAST THAT ARGUMENT.

I'M A LAWYER.

THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT.

STAYING ON THAT TOPIC I THINK ONLY UNDERMINES THE CANDIDATES AND UNDERMINES, THEREFORE, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> THAT SAID, ARE YOU VOTING FOR DARREN BAILEY OVER JB PRITZKER?

>> I'M GOING INTO MY POLLING -- LOOK, I'M NOT A FAN OF GOVERNOR PRITZKER.

I'M THE MAYOR OF BURIDGE AND HE AND I CROSSED PATHS.

BECAUSE I ASKED ON INFORMATION ON THE MIGRANTS COMING, HE CALLED THE COMMUNITY RACIST.

>> NOT A WAY TO WIN YOUR SUPPORT THERE.

>> NOT A WAY TO WIN MY SUPPORT.

>> THE MIGRANTS ARE NO LONGER AT THAT HOTEL IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> THEY WERE MOVED OUT.

FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM THAT EXISTED FROM THE BEGINNING WAS THAT THE GOVERNOR ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A DIFFERENT COUNTY.

WHEN HE REALIZED IT WAS DuPAGE COUNTY, HIS STAFF MOVED THEM OUT.

>> ON THAT QUESTION, YOU'RE STILL PERHAPS UNDECIDED?

>> I'VE DECIDED.

>> OKAY, YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY HERE.

>> I'M NOT A FAN OF GOVERNOR PRITZKER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

2024 YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE THE BELLWETHER, THEN IT SEEMS LIKE YOU DON'T THINK MUCH IS GOING TO CHANGE IN ILLINOIS IN 2022, IF DONALD TRUMP IS THE CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT, DOES HE GET YOUR VOTE?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW.

REALLY WANT TO SEE HIM CAMPAIGN.

IF HE STAYS ON HIS ISSUES, WHICH INCLUDED HOW WE INTERACT INTERNATIONALLY, THE SOUTHERN BORDER, I THINK HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON THAT.

IF HE GETS TO POLICY AND OFF HIS PERSONAL ATTACKS AND SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES, THEN I THINK HE'LL BE A STRONGER CANDIDATE.

I THINK HE'S GOT TO GET BACK TO HOW HE RAN IN 2016 AND AWAY FROM THE ELECTION ISSUES AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT HE'S BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF.

>> ALL RIGHT, MAYOR GARY, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

>>> AND NOW, BRANDIS, WE TOSS IT RIGHT BACK TO YOU.

>> AND PARIS, WE JUST HEARD FROM A SUBURBAN REPUBLICAN MAYOR WHO IS NOT ON TUESDAY'S BALLOT ABOUT HIS PARTY'S CHANCES THIS COMING ELECTION CYCLE.

NOW LET'S LOOK AT SOME RACES THAT ARE UP FOR GRABS IN CHICAGO'S SUBURBS.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH A KEY LOOK AT CONTESTS THAT COULD END IN EITHER MAJOR PARTY'S FAVOR.

>> TECHNICALLY, OF COURSE, TUESDAY IS DECISION DAY, BUT A SIZABLE NUMBER OF RACES WON'T BE DECIDED THEN.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE WINNERS WERE ALREADY SETTLED OVER THE SUMMER IN THE PRIMARY.

I'M TALKING ABOUT AREAS IN ILLINOIS THAT LEAN SO DEMOCRATIC OR SO REPUBLICAN THAT THE WINNER OF THE PRIMARY HAS A VIRTUAL LOCK ON WINNING TUESDAY'S GENERAL ELECTION.

STILL, PARTICULARLY IN THE CHICAGO SUBURBS, IT IS NOT ALWAYS AS CUT AND DRIED.

THERE'S REAL COMPETITION LIKE IN DuPAGE COUNTY.

REPUBLICAN DAN CRONIN HAS CHAIRED THE DuPAGE COUNTY BOARD FOR THE PAST DOZEN YEARS, BUT HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, SO IT'S AN OPEN SEAT.

ONE THAT DEMOCRATS HOPE TO CLAIM.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DEB CONROY OF ELMHURST SAYS ALL 58 CHAIRS OF THE DuPAGE COUNTY BOARD IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN REPUBLICAN MEN, AND IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED TEN YEARS AGO, I WAS THE FIRST DEMOCRAT OUT HERE, AND EVERYWHERE I WENT I WAS IN A ROOM FILLED WITH -- I WAS THE ONLY WOMAN.

IT WAS ALL WHITE MEN, AND THEY WERE ALL REPUBLICAN.

AND THAT IS NOT THE FACE OF DuPAGE COUNTY TODAY.

IT IS VERY DIVERSE.

IT'S RICHLY DIVERSE.

>> THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT DuPAGE COUNTY LOOKS AND VOTES DIFFERENT THAN IT DID 50 YEARS AGO, 20 YEARS AGO, EVEN 10 YEARS AGO.

BUT ONE THING THAT I AM CERTAIN OF IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS ACROSS THIS COUNTY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT POLITICAL AFFILIATION THEY MAY SUBSCRIBE TO, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, OR INDEPENDENT, THE ISSUES THAT THEY CARE ABOUT CONTINUE TO BE THE SAME.

>> NO MORE TAXES, SAFE COMMUNITIES, AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH.

HE'S CURRENTLY ON THE COUNTY BOARD, A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT.

PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERTISE HE SAYS IS NEEDED TO RUN A COUNTY OF SOME 1 MILLION RESIDENTS AND WITH A BUDGET APPROACHING $1 BILLION.

>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A GOVERNMENT THAT'S BEEN AN EXCEPTION TO THE ILLINOIS RULE, AS I SAY.

WE PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE REASONS WHY OUT OF ALL COUNTIES THAT ARE GREATER THAN 500,000 IN POPULATION, DuPAGE WAS THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS THAT GREW IN POPULATION AS OF THE LAST CENSUS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE THAT RECORD OF SUCCESS BY BECOMING MORE LIKE SPRINGFIELD AS MY OPPONENT WANTS TO TAKE US.

>> AS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, HART SAYS ANOTHER TOP PRIORITY WOULD BE TO HIRE MORE LAWYERS AT THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

HE'S CRITICAL OF THE VOTE IN SPRINGFIELD FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW THAT WILL ELIMINATE CASH BAIL IN ILLINOIS.

CONROY STANDS BY THAT VOTE AND SAYS IT'S UNFAIR THAT PEOPLE ARE LOCKED UP SOLELY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY BAIL.

SHE HELP SECURE STATE FUNDS THAT WILL HELP THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ADDICTION STAY OUT OF JAIL AND INSTEAD GET THEM TREATMENT.

FURTHERING THOSE INITIATIVES IS AMONG HER TOP PRIORITIES.

>> SO I THINK -- I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THAT THINGS ARE NOT DOING WELL IN DuPAGE COUNTY.

I'M VERY PROUD OF DuPAGE COUNTY.

BUT I FEEL THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE'VE ONLY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE ON.

YOU KNOW, THE ENVIRONMENT, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WE CAN DO WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.

MENTAL HEALTH WE'VE ONLY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE.

AND DIVERSITY, WE SHOULD HAVE A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF DIVERSITY IN DuPAGE COUNTY.

>> SHE WAS TALKING TO ME IN THE MIDST OF KNOCKING ON DOORS, SO THANKS TO HER FOR THAT.

>> WE KNOW CHICAGO IS SOLIDLY IN DEMOCRATIC CONTROL, BUT WHAT ABOUT COOK COUNTY?

>> COOK COUNTY DOES HAVE SOME TOSSUPS.

LET'S KEY IN ON THE COOK COUNTY BOARD.

RIGHT NOW REPUBLICANS HOLD ONLY TWO OF THE BOARD'S 17 DISTRICTS.

ONE OF THE INCUMBENT REPUBLICANS, SEAN MORRISON, IS RUNNING AGAIN AGAINST DEMOCRAT DAN.

THE OTHER, PETER, NOT RUNNING AGAIN AFTER 28 YEARS REPRESENTING THE NINTH DISTRICT.

THE NEWLY REDRAWN DISTRICT STRETCHES FROM RIVER FOREST IN THE SOUTHEAST TO PALETINE ON THE SOUTHWEST.

WHILE THE OPPONENTS MIGHT NOT AGREE ON MUCH, BOTH CANDIDATES VYING FOR THAT SEAT SAY IT COULD GO EITHER WAY.

>> PROBABLY THE -- ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE COOK COUNTY BOARD DISTRICTS OF THE 17 DISTRICTS.

>> THIS IS ONE OF PROBABLY FOUR COOK COUNTY BOARD RACES THAT IS ACTUALLY IN PLAY.

>> DEMOCRAT MAGGIE TREVOR, WHO GREW UP IN ROLLING MEADOWS, HAS A BACKGROUND IN HEALTHCARE.

IMPROVING COOK COUNTY'S HEALTHCARE AND HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IS HER TOP FOCUS, FROM BUILDING UP A WIDER NETWORK OF DOCTORS TO MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

SHE SAYS THEY ARE CURRENTLY GROSSLY UNDERPROVIDED, AND IN THE WAKE OF THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE, TREVOR SAYS EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR REPRODUCTIVE CARE WILL BE CRITICAL.

>> THERE NEEDS TO BE A BUILD OUT OF CAPACITY FOR OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY IN GENERAL.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS AND THAT HAPPENS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

NOT JUST IN THE NINTH DISTRICT BUT IN ALL OUR HEALTHCARE FACILITIES.

>> REPUBLICAN MATT GREW UP IN NORTHWEST CHICAGO AND WORKS IN LOGISTICS.

HE SAYS WHEN HE TALKS TO VOTERS, HEALTHCARE DOESN'T COME UP.

HE SAYS THEY'RE FOCUSED ON KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES LIKE THE ECONOMY, THE CHICAGO BEARS POTENTIAL MOVE TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, AND ALSO CRIME.

>> MY TOP THREE ARE CRIME, I WANT TO HOLD KIM FOXX ACCOUNTABLE AND GET THIS ELECTRONIC MONITORING PROGRAM UNDER CONTROL.

I WANT TO CONVERT THE GAS TAX, WHICH IS PARTIALLY PER GALLON BASED AND A SALES TAX ON TOP OF THAT, I WANT TO GET RID OF THE SALES TAX PORTION OF IT AND CONVERT THAT INTO A PER GALLON FEE.

>> MATT ALSO BACKS A PLAN TO DIRECT MONEY TOWARD PENSION DEBT WITH THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF, HE SAYS, REDUCING PROPERTY TAXES.

BOTH MADE IT OUT OF COMPETITIVE PRIMARIES TO WIN THEIR RESPECTIVE PARTY'S NOMINATION.

>> AMANDA, ANY OTHER RACES TO HIGHLIGHT?

>> SURE, BRANDIS, THERE ARE SOME SUBURBAN LEGISLATIVE RACES.

DON'T LOOK FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CHANGE HANDS.

DEMOCRATS WILL MAINTAIN CONTROL, BUT REPUBLICANS HOPING TO TAKE SOME.

AS FOR THE COOK COUNTY BOARD, THE NINTH, 14th, AND 15th COOK COUNTY BOARD DISTRICTS COULD SWING.

SPEAKING OF THE COOK COUNTY BOARD, THERE IS, OF COURSE, A RACE FOR BOARD PRESIDENT BETWEEN INCUMBENT TONY AND NOW REPUBLICAN BOB, THOUGH THAT IS NOT THOUGHT OF AS TRULY COMPETITIVE.

AND THEN DON'T FORGET IN THE SUBURBS THERE ARE TWO RARE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT RACES.

AND THOSE RACES COULD DETERMINE WHICH PARTY HOLDS THE MAJORITY ON THE STATE'S HIGH COURT.

AND BRANDIS, WE, OF COURSE, COVERED THOSE BEFORE, SO VOTERS SHOULD CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE.

>> THEY SURE WILL.

AND AMANDA, WE'LL SEE YOU LATER IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>> UNTIL THEN, MY FELLOW PURPLE FRIEND.

>> PURPLE FRIEND, WE GOT THE MEMO TODAY.

FOR MORE CHECK OUT OUR WTTW VOTER GUIDE, HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES IN THEIR OWN WORDS ON WHY THEY WANT YOUR VOTE.

THAT'S AT WTTW.COM/VOTERG UIDE.

WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> IMMIGRANTS TO AMERICA OFTEN ENCOUNTER RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC PREJUDICE THROUGHOUT THEIR COUNTRY.

THAT HAS MARKED THE EXPERIENCE OF TWO OF THE CITY'S LARGEST IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS, THE IRISH AND MEXICAN COMMUNITIES.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY EXPERIENCE THOSE GROUPS SHARE.

THOUGH AN OCEAN SEPARATES THEIR HOMELANDS, IRISH AND MEXICAN SOLDIERS ALSO FOUGHT FOR MEXICAN SOVEREIGNTY DURING THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR OF THE LATE 1840s.

THAT UNLIKELY ALLIANCE HAS INSPIRED A MUSICAL PRODUCTION CREATED BY TWO OF CHICAGO'S MASTERS OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC.

ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> AND THAT'S HOW HE WELCOMES JOHN REILLY TO MEXICO.

>> IT'S A STORY OF THE HEART, MAYBE ONE OF SOUND.

I'M JOHN REILLY.

>> Reporter: THE STORY IS EXTRAORDINARY.

DURING THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR FROM 1846 TO 1848 A GROUP OF IRISH IMMIGRANTS DESERTED THE U.S. ARMY TO FIGHT INSTEAD ALONGSIDE MEXICAN SOLDIERS.

BUT HOWEVER REMARKABLE THE STORY MIGHT BE, IT'S A CHAPTER OF HISTORY THAT'S NOT ESPECIALLY WELL KNOWN IN THE U.S. .

>> THE U.S. WAS EXPANDING WESTWARD, HAD DECLARED A WAR AGAINST MEXICO, AND THE NEWLY ARRIVED IRISHMEN HAD SIGNED UP FOR THE U.S. ARMY AND THEY SENT THEM ON THE FRONTLINES TO SHOOT AT MEXICANS.

WHEN THEY REALIZED THEY WERE SHOOTING AT CATHOLICS, THEY HAD A CHANGE OF HEART.

THERE WAS A SENSE OF RIGHTEOUS ANGER WITH THESE GUYS WHEN THEY DESERTED.

>> THOSE IRISHMEN WERE COURT-MARTIALED AND SHOT OR HUNG FOR TREASON.

AND NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT MUCH AGAIN IN U.S. HISTORY.

BUT IN MEXICO THERE ARE STREETS NAMED AFTER THEM.

THEY'RE HEROES IN MEXICO.

>> Reporter: THEY'VE MADE IT THEIR MISSION TO BRING THE BALLAD OF THE BATTALION TO THE MASSES.

IN TWO PERFORMANCES THIS MONTH, DIAZ, CLE LAND, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE ENSEMBLES ARE JOINING FORCES TO TELL THE STORY THROUGH MUSIC, POETRY, AND DANCE.

DIAZ AND CLELAND'S COLLABORATION BEGAN WHEN THEY WORKED TOGETHER ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO TO CREATE A PERFORMANCE ABOUT MICHAEL HOGAN'S BOOK THE IRISH SOLDIERS OF MEXICO.

>> AT SOME POINT WE WERE PUT TOGETHER TO DO A GIG, AND WE SAID WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO.

WE'RE LIKE WE DO THINGS IN SIX EIGHT, JIG RHYTHMS.

WE THOUGHT, WE'LL START WITH THAT.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF INSTRUMENTS IN COMMON.

WE HAVE FIDDLES.

WE HAVE PER KUSIVE DANCE.

WE HAVE HARPS, WE HAVE SIMILAR RHYTHMS THAT WE USE.

SO THAT WAS EASY TO FIND THOSE COMMON DENOMINATORS.

>> Reporter: DIAZ AND CLELAND HAVE RESTAGED THE PERFORMANCE A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN, ADDING NEW ELEMENTS WITH EACH PRODUCTION.

THEY SAY THAT CHICAGO IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO SING THIS ULTIMATELY TRACKIC TALE OF BROTHERS IN ARMS.

>> THIS IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF OUR HISTORIC CONNECTIONS OF OUR TWO ETHNIC GROUPS IS THE PARTICULAR ENERGY THAT WE GET FROM BEING IMMIGRANTS TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND BEING CONNECTED TO THE ENERGY OF THIS PLACE.

JUST A GREAT CITY.

>> I HOPE PEOPLE REFLECT ON THE SIMILARITIES WITH THE PRESENT DAY THAT MAYBE HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF IN SOME WAY.

THAT IT'S GOOD TO REACH ACROSS ETHNIC BOUNDARIES AND COLLABORATE, BECAUSE THAT IS THE WELLSPRING OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION WHEN YOU DO THAT TYPE OF COLLABORATION.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT", THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> VERY COOL MIX OF MUSICAL STYLES THERE.

THERE'LL BE TWO PERFORMANCES.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11th AND NOVEMBER 16th AT THE BEVERLY ART CENTER.

YOU'LL FIND MORE ON THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> AND NOW, BRANDIS, WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", A FEDERAL LAW IS SUPPOSED TO ENSURE HOSPITAL BILL TRANSPARENCY FOR PATIENTS, BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE THAT SIMPLE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT NAVIGATING THE BILLING DEPARTMENT OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

>>> AND ELECTION DAY IS LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM DISSECTS THE TIGHTENING RACES TO WATCH.

>>> BUT FIRST, SOME MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S $16 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL IS SET FOR A FINAL VOTE ON MONDAY.

THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEES VOTED TO ADVANCE THE PROPOSAL TODAY, BUT NOT WITHOUT DEBATE.

SOME ALDER PEOPLE CRITIQUED THE BUDGET FOR NOT INCLUDING A DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.

THEY POINT TO LIGHTFOOT'S CAMPAIGN PROMISE OF REESTABLISHING THE DEPARTMENT.

BUDGET DIRECTOR SUZIE PARK VOWS TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON HOW TO CREATE THAT DEPARTMENT.

>>> THERE ARE SHORTCOMINGS IN SOME OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEE'S MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, WHO LOOKED INTO TWO OF THE DEPARTMENT'S MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGIES.

THE OYG SAYS IT FOUND ONE SUPPORT PROGRAM FELL SHORT ON STAFFING AND TRAINING AND MADE 13 RECOMMENDATIONS TO SOLVE THOSE ISSUES.

IN RESPONSE, CPD PROVIDED A SIX-MONTH TIMELINE TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

>>> AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, YOU'VE GOT TWO AND A HALF HOURS TO BUY YOUR POWERBALL TICKET, BECAUSE THAT MASSIVE JACKPOT IS STILL UP FOR GRABS.

THIS TIME IT'S AN ESTIMATED $1.2 BILLION.

BILLION WITH A B.

THE JACKET -- JACKPOT IS THE SECOND LARGEST IN POWERBALL HISTORY AND IS THE BIGGEST PRIZE IN MORE THAN SIX YEARS.

THE ODDS OF WINNING THE JACKPOT, NOT SO LARGE, ONE IN 992 MILLION.

NUMBERS SET TO BE DRAWN AT 9:59 CENTRAL TIME.

I'VE GOT TO BUY MY TICKET.

>>> NOW TO PARIS FOR A LOOK AT CROSS TRANSPARENCY EFFORTS AT HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PARIS?

>> BRANDIS, A FEDERAL LAW IS SUPPOSED TO ENSURE HOSPITAL PATIENTS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE IN FOR WHEN IT COMES TO COST.

IT REQUIRES HOSPITALS IN THE U.S. TO PROVIDE CLEAR AND ACCESSIBLE PRICING INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.

IT HASN'T EXACTLY WORKED AS ADVERTISED.

A REPORT FINDS THAT ONLY 16% OF HOSPITALS ARE COMPLYING WITH THE RULE.

PRESIDENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH FUND, BOARD CERTIFIED PATIENT ADVOCATE OF MED HELPS, BASED IN CHICAGO, AND CYNTHIA FISHER U FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF PATIENTRIGHTS.ORG.

CYNTHIA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

THIS NEW FEDERAL RULE HAS BEEN IN EFFECT FOR A YEAR.

REMIND US WHAT IT REQUIRES HOSPITALS TO DO.

>> YES, THE HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY RULE STARTING JANUARY 1, 2021, NEAR NOW 21 MONTHS INTO THE LAW, WHERE ALL HOSPITALS ARE DEPOSED ALL OF THEIR PRICES BY EVERY SINGLE PROCEDURE AND EVERY SINGLE HEALTH PLAN THAT THEY ACCEPT, EVEN THE DISCOUNTED CASH PRICES.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU SAID, ONLY 16% OF THE NATION'S HOSPITALS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS LAW, ESSENTIALLY KEEPING PATIENTS STILL BLIND TO PRICES, ABLE TO BE BLIND SIDED BY OVERCHARGED BILLS AND STILL HAVING TO PAY WITH A BLANK CHECK BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TRULY TO PRICE TRANSPARENCY IN HEALTHCARE.

>> I WANT TO GET INTO THE LACK OF COMPLIANCE IN A MINUTE, BUT DAVID, ONE OF THE INTENDED GOALS HERE IS TO PERHAPS BRING PRICES DOWN IF CONSUMERS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE IN FOR, THEY CAN SHOP AROUND, MAYBE HOSPITALS MAKE THE PRICE MORE COMPETITIVE.

HAS IT WORKED THAT WAY?

>> I'M TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF PRICE TRANSPARENCY.

I THINK IT'S AN ESSENTIAL STEP TO CREATING AND TESTING WHETHER WE CAN HAVE REAL MARKETS, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU ASK FOR CONSUMERS TO BE GOOD PURCHASERS BASED ON PRICE.

MY PROBLEM IS THAT AS A PHYSICIAN WHO PRACTICED PRIMARY CARE FOR 35 YEARS AND IS A HEALTH POLICY EXPERT, I CAN'T MAKE HEADS OR TAILS OF THE PRICES THAT ARE QUOTED TO ME, AND I THINK THE CONSUMERS NEED MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN JUST PRICE TRANSPARENCY.

PRICE TRANSPARENCY IS A FIRST STEP ON A LONG JOURNEY TOWARD FUNCTIONING HEALTHCARE MARKETS IF THAT IS EVER GOING TO BE POSSIBLE.

>> WHEN YOU SAY YOU CAN'T MAKE HEADS OR TAILS, WHAT ARE CONSUMERS LOOKING AT WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOWEVER THESE ARE FORMATTED AND CHARGED OR WEBSITES OR WHAT HAVE YOU?

>> SO THE ANALOGY I LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT WHEN YOU BUY A CAR, YOU DON'T GET THE PRICES OF THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE CARBURETOR AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE RADIO AND THE VINYL COVERS OF THE -- YOU DON'T GET ALL THOSE SEPARATELY, YOU GET A SINGLE PACKAGE AND YOU JUDGE WHETHER THE PRICE IS RIGHT FROM THAT SINGLE PRICE.

PRICE TRANSPARENCY LITERALLY, BY EVERY PROCEDURE, BY EVERY MEDICATION, BY EVERY TEST, IS THE EQUIVALENT TO GETTING ALL THOSE COMPONENTS OF THE CAR WITHOUT GETTING THE TOTAL PRICE OF THE CAR.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP CONSUMERS MAKE GOOD CHOICES.

IT MIGHT HELP IF SOMEONE ELSE, A COMPANY, A START-UP, APPLE, GOOGLE, TAKES THOSE PRICES AND TURNS THEM INTO CAR PRICES, STICKER PRICES FOR WHATEVER THE CONSUMER IS HAVING TO CONSUME.

>> SO IT MIGHT GIVE PATIENTS MORE OF A HEADACHE AND, SANDRA, THAT'S WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES.

YOU WORK WITH PATIENTS IN CHICAGO AS A PATIENT ADVOCATE.

WHAT HAVE YOU AND PATIENTS SEEN AS YOU TRY TO NAVIGATE THIS?

>> ESPECIALLY IN THE MARGINALIZED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS THOSE PATIENTS THAT HAVE CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS, WE'VE SEEN A WHOLE LOT OF CONFUSION, MASS CONFUSION, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE WORD PRICE TRANSPARENCY IS PUT OUT THERE JUST LIKE DAVID HAS STATED, IT'S PUT OUT THERE, BUT NO ONE IS REALLY EDUCATING THE PATIENT WHO HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH SO MUCH ON WHAT EXACTLY PRICE TRANSPARENCY IS AND HOW PRICE TRANSPARENCY WORKS.

>> AND WHO WOULD BE THE BEST -- WOULD THE INSURANCE COMPANY PLAY A ROLE IN THIS?

WHO COULD STEP IN AND HELP THE PATIENT HERE?

>> YOU DO HAVE INDEPENDENT PATIENT ADVOCATES SUCH AS MYSELF WHICH CAN OFFER THE PATIENT UNLIMITED OPTIONS.

YOU ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY-BASED, NOT SO MUCH COMMUNITY-BASED, BUT FACILITY-BASED ADVOCATES WHO CAN HELP THE PATIENT.

HOWEVER, IT'S A FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL.

SO A LOT OF THE TIMES, THE FACILITY-BASED ADVOCATES CANNOT TELL A PATIENT ALL THAT THERE IS TO KNOW.

SO IT'S BEST THAT THEY DO GO AHEAD AND REACH OUT TO AN INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE SUCH AS MYSELF FOR HELP IN UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT PRICE TRANSPARENCY IS AND HOW IT WORKS.

>> AND CYNTHIA, AS YOU ALLUDED TO EARLIER, YOU LOOKED AT COMPLIANCE HERE.

YOU FOUND THAT ONLY 16% OF HOSPITALS AND PROVIDERS ARE COMPLYING, WHY IS THAT?

DO THEY FACE PENALTIES FOR NOT COMPLYING?

>> YES, THE PENALTIES ARE UP TO $10 MILLION FOR A HOSPITAL, BUT SADLY, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAS ONLY FINED TWO HOSPITALS IN THIS COUNTRY WITH THE MONETARY FINES OF OVER $1 MILLION.

AND IMMEDIATELY WE SAW EXCELLENT FILES BEING POSTED BY THOSE TWO FINED HOSPITALS.

SO THE OPPORTUNITY IS FOR EVERY HOSPITAL TO POST ALL OF THEIR PRICES.

AND AS DAVID ALLUDED TO, IS THIS DATA NEEDS TO BE UNLEASHED TO CREATE A MARKET, TO CREATE A FUNCTIONAL AND COMPETITIVE MARKET.

BECAUSE, PARIS, THERE IS WIDE PRICE VARIATION EVEN FOR THE SAME SERVICES ON THE SAME DAY.

AND WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO PAY $3,000 FOR AN MRI WHEN THEY COULD SEE ANOTHER PLAN WHERE THEY COULD PAY THE DISCOUNTED CASH PRICE IN THE SAME HOSPITAL FOR $300.

SO WHEN YOU SEE A TEN TIMES DIFFERENCE IN PRICE VARIATION IN THE SAME HOSPITAL ON THE SAME DAY, CONSUMERS WILL NOT TOLERATE BEING OVERCHARGED.

AND THIS IS THE GREAT REVEAL.

IT'S THE VERY BEGINNING.

AND AS DAVID ALLUDED TO, IT'S THE OPPORTUNITY NOW FOR TECH DEVELOPERS TO HELP DEVELOP SHOPPING APPLICATIONS LIKE KAYAK OR GOOGLE FLIGHTS OR WHAT EXPEDIA DID FOR THE AIRLINES.

IT'S BEGINNING TO GET THE DATA OUT INTO A MARKETPLACE.

>> CERTAINLY AN OPPORTUNITY THERE.

SO DAVID, THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION, DOES THIS RULE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT HOSPITALS HAVE DIFFERENT LEDGERS FOR INSURED PATIENTS VERSUS NONINSURED PATIENTS, AND DEPENDING ON YOUR PLAN, CERTAIN PROCEDURES COST COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AMOUNTS.

>> SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE REGULATION, AND I'M NO EXPERT ON IT, IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE REVEALS THEIR COSTS WHETHER THEY'RE INSURED OR NOT INSURED.

THAT'S ESSENTIAL BUT ALSO VERY CONFUSING.

SO IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE AS CYNTHIA SAID THAT ONE CHARGE MAY PAY $3,000 FOR AN MRI AND ANOTHER $300.

BUT IF YOU GO TO SEE THE DOCTOR FOR A BAD BACK THAT WOULD THEN REQUIRE SURGERY, THE SAME PLAN MAY PAY A TENTH -- CHARGES TEN TIMES AS MUCH AS THE MRI, MAY PAY ONE TENTH AS THE SURGERY.

>> OBVIOUSLY IT'S ALL VERY CONFUSING FOR THE PATIENT.

SANDRA, I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU WHAT IS YOUR GENERAL ADVICE?

I KNOW EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT, BUT WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO PATIENTS THAT ARE SUPER WORRIED ABOUT INCURRING MEDICAL DEBT BUT THEY HAVE TO GO INTO THE HOSPITAL AND THEY HAVE TO GET PROCEDURES.

>> MY ONE SUGGESTION, AND I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE THIS TO ALL PATIENTS, IS TO USE YOUR VOICE.

USE YOUR VOICE, CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY, SPEAK TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY REP. YOU KNOW, ASK THEM, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS, WHERE CAN YOU FIND -- A LOT OF INSURANCE COMPANIES ALREADY WERE LISTING THE INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE, IT'S JUST THAT A LOT OF PATIENTS DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO GET THAT INFORMATION.

BUT I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO USE THEIR VOICE TO SPEAK TO THEIR DOCTOR IS SENDING THEM SOMEWHERE AND THEY'RE NOT SURE WHETHER IT'S IN NETWORK OR HOW MUCH IT'LL COST TO USE THEIR VOICE WITH THEIR DOCTOR, WITH THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY, TO FIND OUT JUST HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST THEM SO AT LEAST THEY HAVE A GUIDE THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY GO BY.

AND ONCE AGAIN, REACH OUT TO A PATIENT ADVOCATE, THE DIRECTOR IS GNANOW.ORG.

ADVOCATES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT ARE INDEPENDENT ADVOCATES.

BECAUSE WE'RE INDEPENDENT, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER ALL THE OPTIONS SO THAT PATIENTS ARE AWARE OF WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND WHAT THEY'RE GETTING AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ONCE THEY GET THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, VERY HELPFUL.

SOUNDS LIKE THIS -- YEAH, VERY QUICKLY, CYNTHIA.

>> THE LAW REQUIRES ALL HOSPITALS TO POST THEIR PRICES ON THEIR WEBSITES AND ALSO TO SHOW THE ACTUAL PRICES OF THE 300 MOST COMMON SHOPABLE SERVICES TO MAKE IT EASY FOR CONSUMERS.

SO THAT IS IN THE LAW NOW THAT ANYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO A WEBSITE.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE TECH COMPANIES TO HARMONIZE THAT DATA AND PROVIDE US MOBILE SHOPPING APPS IN THE FUTURE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS JUST A FIRST STEP HERE AND MORE STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN HERE FOR TRANSPARENCY AND PRICE CONTROLS.

AND OUR THANKS TO DAVID BLUMIN THAT WILL, SANDRA WASHINGTON, AND CYNTHIA FISHER, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM AND THE BATTLE OVER MONEY AND PLEDGES IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> IT MAY BE HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THE MIDTERM ELECTION IS LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY ON NOVEMBER 8th.

SOME FOLKS WHO ARE NOT SURPRISED ARE OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE, AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

LET'S START WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, AN ANTI-JB PRITZKER PACK AT WORK ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE ATTEMPTING TO SUPPRESS BLACK VOTES, HEATHER, WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

>> POLITICS IS A ZERO SUM GAME.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR YOU OR GOT TO GET PEOPLE NOT TO VOTE FOR THE OTHER GUY.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS STRATEGY IS.

NOW, IT'S THE SAME PACK THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SINCE IT SEEMS LIKE THE DAWN OF TIME FUNDED BY DICK, RUN BY DAN.

TARGETED MESSAGES SEEKING TO MAKE BLACK PEOPLE ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE SAY, HEY, MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR JB PRITZKER, BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY ONE OF THE FEW WAYS THIS MATH COULD WORK OUT ON TUESDAY FOR REPUBLICAN DARREN BAILEY.

>> AMANDA, MEANWHILE, THE MAN WHO LEFT A DEATH TRET ON REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE DARREN BAILEY'S PHONE WAS CHARGED WITH FELONIES.

>> HE'S OUT, I BELIEVE, ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING.

BUT HE LEFT A VOICEMAIL THAT WAS HORRIFIC, TALKED ABOUT, I'M SORRY TO SAY THIS, AND WARNING, BUT SKINNING BAILEY ALIVE, FEEDING HIM TO BAILEY'S FAMILY.

I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.

ACCUSING BAILEY OF BEING RACIST.

SO I DO THINK THIS IS SORT OF PART AND PARCEL OF A LOT OF THE HARASSMENT AND SORT OF HORRIFYING THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEING HAPPEN.

SOMETIMES THREATS THAT ARE CAUGHT AND ULTIMATELY TAKEN SERIOUSLY, PARTICULARLY AFTER WHAT HAPPENED WITH U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI'S HUSBAND.

SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A FRIGHTENING TIME FOR SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND BAILEY DOES NOW HAVE SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH HIM, NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD TYPICALLY BE ACCOMPANYING A GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

>> BOTH CANDIDATES HANDLED THIS PROBABLY IN THE WAY YOU WOULD WANT THEM.

BAILEY CONDEMNING IT BUT SAYING I HOPE THIS GUY GETS HELP, BECAUSE CLEARLY THIS GUY IS DISTURBED.

AS IT SEEMS IN THE PELOSI CASE TOO, A DISTURBED INDIVIDUAL.

WHEN THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE SOMETIMES FALLEN SHORT IN THEIR CONDEMNATION, IN THIS CASE, IT SEEMS THEY'VE HANDLED IT THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN.

>> IT IS DISTURBING.

MEANWHILE, JB PRITZKER IS TAPPING HIS TRUST TO GIVE SIGNIFICANT DONATIONS TO JUDICIAL RACES AND THE GOP IS CRYING FOUL.

PARIS, IS THIS LEGAL?

>> THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SAYS NO IT IS NOT.

THE ISSUE IS A STATE LAW THAT GOVERNOR PRITZKER SIGNED.

>> LET'S KEY IN ON THAT.

THAT GOVERNOR PRITZKER HIMSELF SIGNED.

>> PART OF THIS LAW IS THROWN OUT BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, BY THE WAY.

BUT THE PART KEPT IN TACT SAYS YOU CAN'T GIVE MORE THAN $500,000.

SO HE'S GIVEN $500,000, SO TO SKIRT THAT, AS THE SUN TIMES WROTE ABOUT THIS MORNING, HE IS USING HIS TRUST TO GIVE ANOTHER $500,000.

THE BALANCE OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS UP, 4-3, REPUBLICAN/DEMOCRATIC BALANCE.

THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, NOT ILLEGAL UNLESS THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO CHALLENGE IT.

>> IT WOULD BE TOO LATE, PRESUMABLY, FOR ANY OF THAT MONEY.

AND GUESS WHAT, PRITZKER HAS THE MONEY TO PAY POTENTIAL FINES.

>> I'M NO MATH WIZ, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE $1 MILLION EACH FROM SOME OF PRITZKER'S BUDGET.

>> CORRECT, BRANDIS.

>> THAT IS A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT.

MEANWHILE, AMANDA, THE TWO CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR PUSHING EACH OTHER TO ACCEPT POST-ELECTION PLEDGES.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN SEEN IS THIS JUST SORT OF LIKE -- BUT I THINK THERE IS SERIOUSNESS BEHIND IT.

BAILEY TRYING TO SAY PRITZKER SHOULD SAY NOT JUST THAT HE INTENDS TO SERVE HIS TERM AS GOVERNOR BUT THAT HE WILL.

THIS IS, OF COURSE, BECAUSE PRITZKER HAS BEEN MENTIONED AS POTENTIALLY GOING FOR A BID FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, ESPECIALLY SHOULD BIDEN NOT RUN FOR A SECOND TERM.

THEN YOU HAVE PRITZKER WANTING BAILEY TO VOW HE'S GOING TO ACCEPT THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION, SAYING HE HAS SOME DENIERS OF THE 2020 ELECTION ON HIS CAMPAIGN TEAM.

BOTH TEAMS HAVE SAID, AGAIN, PRITZKER SAYING I INTEND TO SERVE OUT MY TERM AS GOVERNOR, AND BAILEY SAYING, YES, I WILL ACCEPT THE TERMS, AND I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT.

>> SO LET'S MOVE OVER TO THE SENATE RACE BETWEEN TAMMY DUCK WORTH AND ATTORNEY KATHY SELVY.

THEIR ONLY JOINT APPEARANCE HERE ON WTTW WHERE THINGS GOT HEATED OVER PPP LOANS.

>> I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING YOU DID WITH THAT $1.9 TRILLION SPENDING BOONDOGGLE, YOU SAID THAT IT GOES TO THE SCHOOL, WELL IT DOESN'T.

IN FACT, YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP PPP FUNDS FROM PRISONERS, PROBATIONERS, AND PAROLEES, AND YOU VOTED AGAINST THAT BILL.

>> I BELIEVE YOUR LAW FIRM TOOK THOSE PPP FUNDS, $200,000 WORTH, AND YOU APPLIED FOR THE FORGIVENESS.

YOU NEVER PAID THOSE BACK.

I THINK IT IS HYPOCRITICAL.

I SUPPORTED THE FUND, I SUPPORTED YOUR FIRM GETTING THE FUND, BUT I THINK IT'S HYPOCRITICAL TO ASK FOR LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR LAW FIRM BUT NOT FOR STUDENTS.

>> HEATHER, NO LOVE LOST BETWEEN THESE TWO?

>> IT WAS A TENSE DEBATE, I REALLY HAVE TO SAY.

THIS HAS BEEN A SENATE RACE THAT'S BEEN UNDER THE RADAR.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK TAMMY DUCKWORTH IS LIKELY TO BE REELECTED SINCE ILLINOIS IS A DEMOCRATIC STATE.

IT'S CLEAR THEY HAVE SHARP DIFFERENCES, AND THEY WERE ON FULL DISPLAY.

>> A FEW CONGRESSIONAL RACES TO WATCH.

AMANDA, THE 14th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY LAUREN UNDERWOOD LEANS REPUBLICAN.

COOK COUNTY, EXCUSE ME, THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT HAS SHIFTED THE RACE BETWEEN HER AND REPUBLICAN SCOTT FROM LIKELY DEMOCRATIC TO LEANING DEMOCRATIC.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

>> THIS IS AMONG, I BELIEVE, TEN HOUSE DISTRICTS THAT WERE COMFORTABLY WON BY BIDEN THAT HAVE NOW BEEN FLIPPED TO REALLY HAVING -- REPUBLICANS HAVING A CHANCE, MORE THAN THOUGHT.

I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THIS TURNS OUT.

YOU HAVE TO FIGURE MORE ATTENTION WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THESE RACES, NOT JUST BY JOURNALISTS, BUT THE PARTIES, THE HEADS OF THE PARTIES, THOUGHT THERE WAS A CHANCE THEY WOULD FLIP.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT NATIONAL MONEY FUNNELING INTO ILLINOIS.

I THINK THIS IS AN INDICATION THAT SOME OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING ON THE NATIONAL FRONT, THAT THE GOP IS RISING IN POLLS, THAT ECONOMY IS FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THE ISSUE OF ABORTION KIND OF HITTING THE BACK BENCH IS WHAT MIGHT BE COMING INTO PLAY HERE.

>> I SHOULD SAY THAT THESE RACES TIGHTENING -- AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT, THE ECONOMY ISSUE SEEMS TO BE TRENDING IN REPUBLICAN'S FAVOR, AND THIS IS NO DIFFERENT, BUT IT MIGHT BE WHY PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS -- PART OF WHY PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS ARE COMING HERE NEXT WEEK TO CAMPAIGN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO CAMPAIGN IN THESE DISTRICTS, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, KEVIN McCARTHY, COMING TO THIS AREA TO CAMPAIGN WITH SOME OF THESE CANDIDATES.

SO WE'VE ALSO SEEN DICK ULINE POUR ADDITIONAL MONEY INTO THESE RACES.

MAYBE REPUBLICANS THINK THESE ARE GETTABLE SEATS.

AND IF THAT'S A CASE, IT'S A SWEEP OF THE HOUSE FOR REPUBLICANS.

THESE SHOULD BE SAFE FOR DEMOCRATS, BUT IT'S GOING TO HINGE ON TURNOUT.

>> RACE IS TIGHTENING, MANY ILLINOIS RACES ARE TIGHTENING ACCORDING TO TO A RECENT POLL, BUT HEATHER, WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THE 2016 ELECTION ABOUT POLLS?

>> YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A WHOLE BIG SHAKER OF SALT NEXT TO YOU.

YOU CANNOT TAKE IT AS GOSPEL.

IT'S ALL GOING TO COME DOWN TO TURNOUT.

IT'S A CLICHE, BUT THIS IS THE LAST WEEK OF THE CAMPAIGN.

NOBODY KNOWS NOTHING.

IT WILL ALL CHANGE BASED ON WHO COMES OUT TO VOTE.

I THINK THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR THERE'S SO MUCH ANXIETY AND TURMOIL AND JUST CONFUSION BECAUSE, OF COURSE, ABORTION A MAJOR ISSUE IN A WAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THAT WILL MEAN IN THE SUBURBS, PARTICULARLY WHERE WE SAW WOMEN, SUBURBAN MOMS TURN OUT TO TURN THE HOUSE OVER IN 2018.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO THIS YEAR.

>> AMANDA, THERE'S A TEXTING CAMPAIGN GIVING VOTERS MISINFORMATION ON WHERE TO GO ON ELECTION DAY.

IS TELLING FOLKS TO GO TO THE WRONG PLACE ILLEGAL?

>> THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS SENT OUT A WARNING SAYING THIS DOES NOT COME FROM US.

THE CHICAGO ELECTIONS BOARD, NO, THIS IS THIRD PARTY.

DON'T DO THAT.

DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

I THINK IT'S CREEPY IN GENERAL WHEN YOU HAVE CAMPAIGNS, WHEN YOU HAVE ANY EFFORT LIKE THIS, WELL INTENTIONED AS IT MAY BE TO DRIVE UP AND THE VOTE AND GET OUT THE VOTE, OF COURSE, IF YOU WANT TO PURPOSEFULLY STEER PEOPLE TO THE WRONG PLACE, WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT'S BEHIND THIS OR IF IT'S A CAMPAIGN GONE WRONG, BUT NO.

CHECK THE POLLING INFORMATION YOU HAVE.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.

>> IN CITY NEWS, CONGRESSMAN GARCIA CONDUCTED A POLL SHOWING HIM WINNING IN A HEAD-TO-HEAD RACE AGAINST CURRENT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

PARIS, HE'S RUNNING FOR CONGRESS AGAIN, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES HE JUMPS INTO THE MAYOR'S RACE THIS LATE?

>> IF YOU BELIEVE THE RUMBLINGS THAT HE WANTS TO JUMP IN, ESPECIALLY THIS POLL SAYING HE WOULD STAND A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING, THE THING IS IT'S LATE IN THE GAME.

HE NEEDS TO GET 12,500 VALID CHICAGO SIGNATURES TO GET ON THE BALLOT, WHICH MEANS YOU'VE GOT TO COLLECT TWO TO THREE TIMES MORE THAN THAT TOTAL.

IF ANYONE CAN DO THAT IN A TRUNCATED PERIOD OF TIME, HE CAN.

HE'S GOT A BIG ORGANIZATION TO DO THAT.

HE'S GOT UNTIL NOVEMBER 28th TO DO THAT.

SO HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE HIS DECISION PRETTY SOON.

WE ASSUME IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE MIDTERM ELECTION, BUT IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO HAPPEN VERY SHORT ORDER AFTER THAT.

>> AND BY THE WAY, THE POLL SAYING HE WOULD WIN IN A MATCHUP AGAINST LIGHTFOOT, WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS WHETHER HE WOULD GET TO THAT POINT AND WHO WOULD MAKE IT TO A RUNOFF THERE.

>> CAN I SAY LIKE WHY DIDN'T I GET THE PURPLE MEMO TONIGHT?

>> YOU MISSED THE MEETING.

>> I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

>> WE FORGOT YOU, SORRY.

REAL QUICK, BEFORE WE GO, CTU BACKING BRANDON JOHNSON IN THIS RACE.

BUT THE POWERFUL UNION, WE KNOW THIS, THEY BACKED GARCIA IN HIS BID TO UNSEAT MANUEL.

HOW MUCH HELP WAS THE CTU LAST TIME?

>> IT'LL BE A DIFFERENT CAMPAIGN FOR GARCIA.

HE WILL HAVE TO RUN ON THE STRENGTH OF HIS OWN POLITICAL ORGANIZATION AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RELY ON THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION, BECAUSE THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION IS FULLY BEHIND BRANDON JOHNSON.

HE IS ONE OF THEIR OWN.

HE IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF UNITED WORKING FAMILIES, WHICH IS REALLY THE TEACHERS UNION POLITICAL ARM.

THEY ARE ALL IN FOR HIM.

THEY ENDORSED HIM BEFORE HE FORMALLY LAUNCHED HIS CAMPAIGN.

IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFERENT THAN 2015, 2019 WHEN THE TEACHERS UNION BACKED TONY, WHO, OF COURSE, LOST TO LORI LIGHTFOOT.

2023 IS GOING TO BE ITS OWN BEAST.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT, I MEAN, FOR ALL THE POWER THAT CTU HAS, RIGHT, FROM THEIR ORGANIZATION AND EVERYTHING -- >> NUMBERS, MONEY.

>> -- THEIR LAST TWO CANDIDATES DID NOT WIN.

>> CORRECT.

I THINK AN OPEN QUESTION IS WHETHER BRANDON JOHNSON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEACHERS UNION WILL PROVE TO BE MORE OF A BENEFIT OR A HINDRANCE BECAUSE YOU TALK TO PEOPLE AND SOMETIMES THEY GET REALLY ANGRY ABOUT THE TEACHERS UNION.

>> OKAY, AND OBVIOUSLY WE'LL BE BACK HERE NEXT WEDNESDAY AFTER ELECTION DAY.

THAT IS SPOTLIGHT, THANKS TO PARIS, AMANDA, AND HEATHER.

AND WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP.

BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

[ MUSIC ] >>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRIA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY MAEBE FAMILY, THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING, AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST WITH THE PBS VIDEO APP.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00.

ANTI-VIOLENCE EFFORTS IN EAST GARFIELD PARK AS THE COMMUNITY MOURNS FOLLOWING THIS WEEK'S MASS SHOOTING.

WE HAVE A LIVE REPORT.

>>> AND EVOLVING VIEWS OF SEXUALITY AND ROMANCE ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN A SHOW OF HISTORIC ARTWORK AS A CHICAGO EXHIBITION SPACE.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT", I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE, AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.