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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ IS ON ASSIGNMENT TONIGHT.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> I THINK WE'RE READY TO MOVE TO PHASE 5 WITH THE STATE NEXT FRIDAY, JUNE 11TH.

>> IT'S THE DAY SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE LONGED FOR.

BUT AS CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS PREPARE TO FULLY REOPEN FOR SOME, IT'S A SOURCE OF ANXIETY.

>> A MASSIVE BUYOUT OF CHICAGO AREA MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANY AND MORE OF THE LATEST BUSINESS HEADLINES WITH CRAIN'S.

>> FOUR-LETTER WORD NOBODY WANTS TO SAY.

>> GET READY TO NEVER HAVE TO SAY THE NAME ASIAN CARP EVER AGAIN.

>> DY NOT PLAN ON DATING DURING COVID AT ALL.

>> DATING APPS ALLOW USERS TO SHARE VACCINATION STATUS THE OUTLOOK FOR NEW RELATIONSHIPS AS THE STATE PREPARES TO REOPEN.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., IT WAS ANOTHER VIOLENT WEEKEND IN CHICAGO.

58 PEOPLE WERE SHOT AND FIVE KILLED.

ACCORDING TO CHICAGO POLICE STATISTICS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SHOT IS UP MORE THAN 20% COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 2020 AND HOMICIDES ARE UP 5%.

WITH TWO WEEKS LEFT IN THE SCHOOL YEAR, TEACHERS AT THREE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOLS HIT THE PICKET LINE.

34 TEACHERS AT URBAN PREP ACADEMY ARE STRIKING FOR PAY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.

URBAN PREP OPERATES THREE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK ALL MALE SCHOOLS AND WELL-KNOWN FOR THE COMMITMENT TO GET 100% OF SENIORS ENROLLED IN COLLEGES.

AND MUCH MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

THE STATE AND CHICAGO MOVE CLOSER TO A FULL REOPENING FRY DID DAY AS COVID-19 METRICS IMPROVE.

200 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 ARE REPORTED AND 14 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CASES SURPASSES 1.385 MILLION.

AND THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IS 22,963.

>> AND MORE THAN 5.5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE FULLY VACCINATED IN THE STATE.

CAPACITY LIMITS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE REMOVED JUNE 11TH.

BUT MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE EVEN VACCINATED PEOPLE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AIRPORTS, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND OTHER CONGREGATE SETTINGS.

FRIDAY'S FULL REOPENING IN ILLINOIS MEANS BUSINESSES INCLUDING ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND RESTAURANTS WILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY.

IT IS A DAY MANY PEOPLE LONGED FOR.

BUT IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ANXIETY ABOUT A RETURN TO SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS SAY SO-CALLED REOPENING ANXIETY IS REAL, WIDESPREAD AND TO BE EXPECTED.

JOINING US NOW TO TELL US MORE IS Dr. ADERONKE PEDERSON INSTRUCT SHORE OF PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AT NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> GIVEN THAT SO MANY PEOPLE LOOKED FORWARD TO AN END TO THE PANDEMIC FOR SO LONG, WHY MIGHT REOPENING AND THIS RETURN TO ANOTHER MALT TRIGGER ANXIETY -- NORMALITY TRIGGER ANXIETY?

>> FOR THE PAST 15 MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN IN A HEIGHTENED STATE OF AWARENESS ABOUT SURROUNDING AND WHO IS AROUND US AND MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT SOCIALIZATION WE HAVE HAD TO THINK FIVE STEPS AHEAD OF WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOING PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK IT'S ONLY EXPECTED THAT AFTER SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF IN SOME WAYS AN ANXIETY-PROVOKING CIRCUMSTANCE IN CONTEXT THAT MOVING FORWARD THERE WOULD BE SOME APPREHENSION, SOME ANXIETY FOR DIFFERENT REASONS FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU SEEING OR HEARING IN YOUR OWN PRACTICE?

>> YOU KNOW, PATIENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT I WORK WITH AND OTHER RESEARCH WORK I DO ARE TALKING ABOUT FEELING ANXIOUS ABOUT BEING AROUND PEOPLE EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW THEY ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

AND THIS SORT OF HESITANCY.

WHEN YOU ARE COMING IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT WEARING MASKS SHOULD WE HUG?

EMBRACE EACH OTHER?

OR SHOULD WE STILL BE SOCIALLY DISTANT?

I THINK THERE IS SOME LEVEL OF I THOUGHT I BY THIS POINT I THOUGHT BY THIS POINT I WOULD BE COMPLETELY HAPPY AND READY TO COME FULLY LAUNCH BACK INTO FULL SOCIALIZATION MODE.

BUT THERE IS HESITATION, THERE IS ANXIETY AND A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS THAT IS STILL FOLLOWING US AND LINGERING AT THIS TIME.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY CAUSES THE MOST STRESS?

IS IT A RETURN TO WORKING IN-PERSON?

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION?

GOING OUT TO EAT?

>> I THINK A RETURN TO WORK SEEMS TO BE COMING UP MORE AND MORE.

DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND EMPLOYERS ARE FOLLOWING DIFFERENT GUIDELINES OR PRACTICES WITHIN THEIR OWN ORGANIZATION.

THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF COMMENTARY AROUND THE IDEA COULD WE HAVE HYBRID MODELS?

PEOPLE SAY I'VE ENJOYED NOT COMMUTING AN HOUR TO WORK OR A COUPLE HOURS A DAY OR THE TRAFFIC THAT COMES WITH COMING INTO WORK.

OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT EVERYONE HAS DECIDED TO DO AT MY WORKPLACE I'M NOT SURE EVERY EVERYONE IS FULLY VACCINATED.

PEOPLE SEEING A HESITATION AROUND THE RETURN TO WORK.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS NOT IMPACTED EVERYONE EQUALLY.

WE KNOW THAT THE DISPROPORTION AT IMPACTS HAVE BEEN IN THE RACIAL COMMUNITIES AND THE SOCIAL INJUSTICE AS WELL.

WHAT STRESS OR ANXIETY MIGHT THOSE COMMUNITIES BE FACING AS REOPENING PROGRESSES?

>> I'M SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THAT QUESTION.

BECAUSE I THINK IT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FACT THAT OUR RECOVERY MIGHT NOT LOOK THE SAME CERTAINLY AS INDIVIDUALS, BUT OUR RECOVERY MIGHT NOT LOOK THE SAME AS COMMUNITIES, TOO.

BUT THE DIFFERENT THING THAT BLACK COMMUNITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED, BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED BECAUSE OF THE DISPROPORTION AT IMPACT OF COVID-19 ITSELF BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THIS RACIAL RECKONING THAT WE EXPERIENCED IN 2020 INTO 2021.

AND I HOPE CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE RACIAL TRAUMA THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE COMPOUNDING EFFECT THAT COVID-19 HAS HAD ON BLACK PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT RACIAL TRAUMA WE KNOW BASED ON RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN DONE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN IMPACT PEOPLE ON A PHYSICAL LEVEL AS WELL.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU RECOMMEND TO PEOPLE AS FAR AS HOW TO COPE WITH THEIR ANXIETY AND HOW TO KNOW WHEN THEY SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP?

>> ANXIETY IS ON A SPECTRUM.

AND THINGS LIKE FEELING FATIGUED OR EMOTIONALLY DISTRESSED AND SOMETHING LIKE DEPRESSION.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHEN ANXIETY STARTING TO AFFECT THEIR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES.

WHEN IT IS STARTING TO AFFECT YOUR SLEEP, APPETITE AND IN PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT, YOU'RE TAKING PREVENTATIVE MEASURES.

IF THAT MEANS TAKE A BREAK FROM ACTIVITIES THAT INDUCE THAT ANXIETY OR CAUSE YOU MORE STRESS.

BUT IF YOU START TO NOTICE THAT THE SYMPTOMS OF THINGS LIKE LACK OF SLEEP, TENSION IN YOUR BODY IN YOUR MUSCLES, HEADACHES, AN DORM NATIONAL DISCOMFORT -- AN DORM NATIONAL DISCOMFORT AND THAT IS THE TIME TO TALK TO MY DOCTOR DON'T LET THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH KEEP YOU FROM GOING AND SEEKING HELP BECAUSE THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IN THIS RECOVERY PHASE.

>> AND IS IT POSSIBLE THAT ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC MIGHT BE A GREATER AWARENESS OF AND EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?

>> CERTAINLY GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH MORE AND MORE.

AND I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

BECAUSE IT HAS SUCH AN IMPACT ON US NOT JUST IN TERMS OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH ITSELF BUT LIKE I MENTIONED IN TERMS OF OUR OVERALL WELLNESS, OVERALL PHYSICAL HEALTH.

SO I HOPE THAT THIS IS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE CAN REFLECT AND SAY TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH DOESN'T MEAN I'M WEAK OR THERE'S SOMETHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH ME, THRALL IT MEANS IS I'M ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND IT IS A STRENGTH THAT ARE YOU ABLE TO RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU NEED HELP AND GET THE SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED.

>> Dr. ADERONKE PEDERSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> A MASSIVE BUYOUT OF A CHICAGO AREA MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANY.

A PUSH BY AIRLINES TO REIGNITE TRAVEL BETWEEN BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES AS THE PANDEMIC EASES AND WHY SOME JOB SEEKERS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY HESITANT TO RELOCATE FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

HERE TO GO BEHIND THE HEADLINE IS CRAIN'S BUSINESS EDITOR ANN DWYER.

WELCOME BACK I SEE YOU ARE IN THE OFFICE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONGTIME.

OUR FIRST STORY IS ABOUT A LEVERAGED BUYOUT OF THE NORTHFIELD BASED MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANY MEDLINE.

HOW BIG IS THIS DEAL?

>> BY SOME MEASURES IT'S THE LARGEST LEVERAGED BUYOUT IN CORPORATE HISTORY.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT $34 BILLION THAT CHANGED HANDS.

NOT FOR THE ENTIRE COMPANY, BY THE WAY BUT A MAJORITY STAKE IN IT.

THE FOUNDING FAMILY OF MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, THE MILLS CLAN, WILL RETAIN A ROLE AT THE COMPANY.

AND INDEED, THIS IS A FOURTH GENERATION COMPANY THAT'S BEEN RUN VERY MUCH AS A FAMILY ENTERPRISE FROM DAY ONE.

HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BUILT THEMSELVES UP INTO BEING A GIANT IN THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES BUSINESS.

AND THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES THIS AN UNUSUAL DEAL, THE DETAILS ARE STILL COMING INTO FOCUS IS THAT IT SEEMS THAT THE PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTORS BLACK STONE GROUP AND CARLISLE AMONG OTHERS BUYING IN, ARE DOING SO NOT SO MUCH TO DO THE CLASSIC EFFICIENCY SQUEEZE THAT THE PRIVATE EQUITY INDUSTRY IS NOTORIOUS FOR.

INSTEAD THEY SAY THEY WANT TO GROW THE BUSINESS PARTICULARLY INTERNATIONALLY.

AND THE MILLS FAMILY'S CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT INSURES THAT IS DEPENDING TO HAPPEN.

>> AND SOME AIRLINES ARE PUSHING FOR A RESUMPTION OF NORMAL AIR TRAVEL BETWEEN THE U.S. AND BRITAIN AS THE PANDEMIC EASES IN BOTH COUNTRIES.

HOW SIGNIFICANT WOULD THIS BE FOR THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY?

>> HUGE.

THE LONDON-NEW YORK ROUTE ALONE IS THOUGHT OF AS THE MOST LUCRATIVE INTERNATIONAL CORRIDOR IN THE BUSINESS.

THAT ROUTE ALONE GENERATED $1 BILLION IN REVENUE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

SO THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY, UNITED ALL RIVALS IN THE U.S. AND COUNTERPARTS IN THE U.K. ARE DESPERATE TO GET REGULATORS TO REOPEN THAT ROUTE.

BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO THE AIRLINES BENEFIT BUT SO DO THE AIRPORTS AND THE ANCILLARY BUSINESSES THAT FEED OFF OF THAT ACTIVITY.

THE INDUSTRY IS GETTING TOGETHER AND PUSHING REGULATORS TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO REOPEN THIS ROUTE BY JULY 4TH AT THE LATEST.

WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH LEVERAGE THEY HAVE.

>> AND QUICK, ANN, NEW SURVEYS ARE SHOWING FEWER PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO RELOCATE FOR THEIR JOBS.

WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?

>> IT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE HOLD OVERS FROM THE COVID ERA.

CHALLENGER GRAY AND CHRISTMAS, THE CHICAGO BASED FIRM DID A SURVEY THAT SHOWED IN 2020 ONLY 5% OF JOB SEEKERS SAID THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO RELOCATE TO TAKE A NEW JOB.

FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR 4% SAID THE SAME THING.

JUST IN COMPARISON, IN 2018 THAT NUMBER HOVERED MORE THAN 10%.

IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THE WORK FROM HOME ERA TAUGHT US LESSONS ABOUT THE NEED TO RELOCATE OR HOW IMPORTANT LOCATION MAY OR MAY NOT BE TO SOME EMPLOYERS.

>> CRAIN'S BUSINESS EDITOR ANN DWYER THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A NEW NAME FOR AN AQUATIC NUISANCE.

STAY WITH US.

>> AT THE END EVERY THIS MONTH, ILLINOISIANS WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO HEAR THE WORDS ASIAN CARP.

AFTER SEVERAL YEARS AND HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT TRYING TO KEEP THEM FROM THE GREAT LAKES HOW CAN THAT BE?

AND WHY DOES THIS NEWS HAVE ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND THE STATE'S COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRIES SWIMMING IN OR SHALL I SAY LEAPING WITH OPTIMISM?

PARIS SCHUTZ WENT TO FISH OUT THE ANSWERS.

>> DIRK FUCIK IS THE PURVEYOR OF DIRK'S FISH AND GOURMET SHOP.

HE SAYS ASIAN CARP MAY ONE DAY BE MORE POPULAR THAN TILAPIA.

>> I THINK IT IS A BETTER FISH THAN TILAPIA.

TA LIP YEAH IS OWE MAKE EGG 6.

>> TO PROVE HIS POINT, DIRK FUCIK IS GRILLING UP CARP CUISINE FROM CUBAN BURGER TO TACOS TO SMOKED CARP.

BUT DESPITE, THE ASIAN CARP IS NOT YET A BEST-SELLER.

>> I'M NOT MAKING MONEY ON IT.

>> AS YOU MAY KNOW, ASIAN CARP ARE THE LEAPING FISH THAT HAVE TAKEN ILLINOIS WATERWAYS BY STORM.

GOVERNMENTS HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS COPE KEEPING THEM OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES FOR FEAR THEY COULD DESTROY THE LAKE'S ECOSYSTEM NOW THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES BELIEVES IT MAY HAVE FOUND A FIX.

AND IT COSTS NEXT TO NOTHING.

THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE FISH'S NAME.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE NAME MORE ATTRACTIVE SO PEOPLE WILL BE MORE INCLINED TO PURCHASE THESE FISH AND TRY THEM AND HAVE THEM AS TABLE FARE FOR DINNER.

>> WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE NAME ASIAN CARP?

>> YOU MADE A FACE WHEN YOU SAID CARP.

>> A TYPICAL CARP IS A BOTTOM FEEDER A SMELLY FISH THAT ISN'T APPETIZING TO ANYONE.

ASIAN CARP FEED ON PLAN TON AND ARE NOT LIKE OTHER CARP.

>> ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT GETS.

>> WE VISITED DAVE BUCHANAN, AND CLINT CARTER ON A RECENT MORNING HAULING IN 4,000 POUNDS WORTH OF ASIAN CARP AND OTHER FISH IN THE PEORIA POOL PART OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER.

CARTER SAYS HE RECENTLY INVESTED IN A NEW BOAT AND FISHING EQUIPMENT.

HOPING THE NAME CHANGE LEADS TO A COMING BOON IN DEMAND.

>> HELP US EXPAND OUR BUSINESS AND CONCENTRATE ON HARVESTING THESE FISH.

>> RIGHT NOW COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN GET A SUBSIDY TO FISH THE ASIAN CARP OUT OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER TO CONTROL A MASSIVE POPULATION THAT HAS MOVED IN AND TAKEN OVER.

SOME OF THE FISH ARE DESTINED FOR FERTILIZER OR USES.

BUT OTHERS ESPECIALLY THE BIG HEAD CARP COULD SOON BE ON YOUR DINNER PLATE.

THAT IS ONCE THEY HAVE A ENTICING NEW NAME.

>> SOMETHING SIMPLE AND SHORT AND NOT CARP.

YOU KNOW.

>> AND THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR THIS.

CHICAGOAN SEA WAS WAS -- ORANGE ROUGHFY?

KNOWN AS PACIFIC SLIME HEAD.

AFTER A TYPICALLY PRODUCTIVE DAY IN THE POOL, DAVE AND CLINT HAUL THEIR LOAD TO SOURCE FRESH WATER COMPANY A PROCESSOR AND DISTRIBUTOR.

THE OWNER SAYS HE PIVOTED HIS BUSINESS NINE MONTHS AGO AFTER 50 YEARS DISTRIBUTING FOOD AND DRY GOODS HE, TOO, IS BETTING BIG ON THE NAME CHANGE.

>> RIGHT NOW, WE'VE CREATED PROBABLY 30-40 NEW JOBS JUST IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS MAINLY THROUGH THE FISHERMEN.

>> THE MEAT IS LILLY WHITE AND PLENTIFUL BUT ONE MORE IMPEDIMENT TO SUCCESS... >> THE ONE BAD THING ABOUT CARP IT'S BONEY AND I CANNOT GIVE YOU A BONELESS PIECE OF CARP IT HAS TO BE PROCESSED AND GROUND UP IT CAN BE BURGER, SAUSAGES, MEATBALLS, TACO MEET ANYTHING WITH GROUND MEAT.

>> WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO THE TEST.

FIRST, THE CARP BURGERS.

>> CAR PAY DEYES, MA'AM.

>> CARPE DIEM.

>> GOOD.

>> NEXT.

THE ASIAN CARP FISH TACO.

>> REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

>> AND FINALLY, SMOKED ASIAN CARP.

IT'S LIKE SMOKED FISH.

>> AND THE REVIEWS WERE MOSTLY SATISFACTORY AMONG CUSTOMERS.

>> GENERAL IMPRESSION THEY WERE SORT OF THROW AWAY FISH.

BUT IT TASTES FINE.

>> ILLINOIS PUBLIC OFFICIALS WILL REVEAL THE NAME CHANGE ON JUNE 29 HOPING SEAFOOD LOVERS PROTECT ILLINOIS WATERWAYS AND THE GREAT LAKES FROM AN AGGRESSIVE INVASIVE SPECIES BY EATING LOADS OF IT.

FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I THINK PARIS WAS INTO THE STORY FOR THE SNACKS.

BY NOW YOU ARE WONDERING WHAT IS THE NEW NAME?

WELL, PUBLIC OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE CHOSEN SOMETHING CREATIVE AND FUN BUT THEY ARE KEEPING IT KIM JONG-UNDER WILL BE AND KEY AND THEY PLAN TO REVEAL THAT NEW NAME ON JUNE 29.

>> THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACTS ON THE FUTURE OF DATING, BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

COULD HAVE MAY HAVE COMPLICATED THE DATING GAME BUT 2020 WAS THE BUSIEST YEAR YET.

OTHER APPS REPORT INCREASED USE.

AS THE WHITE HOUSE PUSHES FOR 70% OF ADULTS TO BE VACCINATED APP USERS CAN SHARE THEIR VACCINATION STATUS ON-LINE.

AND ACCESS A VARIETY OF PREMIUM FEATURES WHEN THEY DO.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT DATING DURING COVID IS BELA GANDHI FOUNDER OF SMART DATING ACADEMY.

WELCOME BACK BELLA.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC CHANGED DATING OVER THE LAST YEAR?

>> IT'S CHANGED A LOT.

AND ONE OF THE SILVER LININGS OF THE PANDEMIC IT'S CHANGED DATING FOR THE BETTER.

ALL OF THE APPS HAVE INCORPORATED VIDEO INTO THEIR INTERFACES WHICH HAS BEEN GAME CHANGING.

SO PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS EVEN DURING LOCKDOWNS.

AND NOW OUR CLIENTS AT SMART DATING ACADEMY THEY ARE MANDATED TO KEEP DOING VIDEO DATES THAT LEADS TO A PREQUALIFIER LEADING LESS TO UNHAPPY DATES.

>> WHY HAVE PEOPLE FLOCKED TO THE DATING APPS?

>> 48% OF AMERICAN ADULTS ARE SINGLE.

THAT IS 118 MILLION ADULTS.

AND SO WHEN LIFE UNPLUGGED AND THE PANDEMIC UNPLUGGED IT FOR US, NO FRIENDS, NO FAMILY, NO FUNDRAISERS, NO BRUSHES WE HAD TO STARE OURSELVES IN THE MIRROR AND FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IT BROUGHT ON I'M LONELY.

MAYBE I WANT [INAUDIBLE] AND THAT DROVE PEOPLE TO THE NUMBERS ON THE APPS THAT ARE UNPRECEDENTED.

>> VIRTUAL VIDEO DATING HAS BECOME MORE COMMON WE SPOKE WITH STEPHANIE MIDED WHO GOT TOGETHER WITH HER PARTNER WHO LIVES IN IRELAND DURING THE PANDEMIC AND SAID THEY TRIED TO CHOOSE ONE CENTRAL ACTIVITY FOR EVERY DATE.

>> REALLY LIKED PLAYING GAMES.

SOME OF OUR BEST DATES HAVE BEEN LIKE ON-LINE PUZZLES YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER AND WE'LL DO THAT PUT ON MUSIC AND TALK.

THERE'S SOMETIMES ALL RIGHT WE CAN WATCH A MOVIE, WATCH A SHOW OR PLAY A GAME OR TALK OR BOTH.

>> HOW HAVE PEOPLE MADE VIRTUAL DATING AND VIDEO CHATS EXCITING AND CREATIVE?

>> SO THE FIRST THING WE TELL PEOPLE FOR FIRST AND SECOND DATES KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET.

YOU DON'T NEED TO DO MORE THAN 30 MINUTES.

DOING A COCKTAIL HOUR.

YOU CAN MIX-UP YOUR FAVORITE COCKTAIL TOGETHER AND DISCLOSE RECIPES TO EACH OTHER.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COOKING DINNER TOGETHER.

IT'S BEEN ABSOLUTELY GAME CHANGING AND FUN FOR PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THE CONNECTIONS SLOWLY AND MORE ORGANICALLY.

>> WE SPOKE WITH JASMINE JACKSON SHE CALLED HERSELF A VICTIM OF VIRTUAL DATING BECAUSE OF COVID.

THIS YEAR SHE WAS CATFISHED BY A MATCH.

LET'S LISTEN... >> I SHOW UP TO THE RESTAURANT AND I'M ON THE PHONE LIKE I'M HERE WHERE ARE YOU BECAUSE I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS TALLER IN STATURE IT WAS NOT HIM IT WAS NOT HIM.

HE WAS SEND HIS BROTHER'S PICTURES.

HE WAS NOT 30 HE WAS 36.

HE HAD BEEN MARRIED TWICE AND DIVORCED AND HE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE BEST TIME TO TELL ME IN PERSON.

>> HOW DO VIRTUAL DATES HELP TO WEED OUT BAD MATCHES OR CATFISHES?

>> WELL, IF YOU ARE JUST USING AN ON-LINE DATING APP YOU GET FIVE OR SIX PHOTOS AND VIDEO BRING IT IS TO LIFE IT MAKES IT DIONNE MILLER MENTIONAL AND WHERE ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO GET A SNEAK PEEK INTO SOMEBODY'S HOUSE WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND LOOKS LIKE IS THERE CRAZY STUFF IN THE BACK.

I LOVE IT FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

>> KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND.

COVID POSED UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO DATE.

WE SPOKE WITH AVA O'MALLEY WHO FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO STRIKE A BALANCE WHEN TRYING TO MEET SOMEONE IN-PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> IT WAS STRESSFUL FOR ME NOT KNOWING IF THIS PERSON IS NOT BEING COMPLETELY HONEST WITH WHO THEY ARE SPENDING TIME WITH AND HOW SAFE THEY ARE BEING STRESSFUL AND YOU ALSO DON'T WANT TO LIKE COME OFF AS YOU DON'T TRUST THEM OR LIKE YOU ARE BEING SKEPTICAL ABOUT THEM.

>> WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU SEEN SINGLE SPACE WHEN DATING THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, AFTER OUR ADVICE WAS TO DO A LOT OF OUTDOOR DATES.

ONCE YOU DO VIDEO DATES GO FOR A WALK.

GO FOR AN OUTDOOR RESTAURANT AND OPTIONS BECAME LIMITED AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS STAY OUT OF EACH OTHER'S HOUSES BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THERE ARE COUPLE BOTTLES OF WINE.

WE WANT TO KEEP THINGS SLOW SO THAT WAS A CHALLENGE DURING THE PANDEMIC KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF EACH OTHER'S HOUSES AND DOING ACTIVITIES TO SEE IF THEY COULD BUILD THE CONNECTIONS >> NOW, THAT APPLICATIONS ARE ALLOWING FOLKS TO SHARE VACATION STATUS HOW MIGHT THAT AFFECT THE DATING GAME?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE GREAT.

A LOT OF THE APPS ARE TALKING ABOUT OFFERING PERKS FOR PEOPLE THAT SHOW THEIR VACCINATION BADGES YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO FREE PREMIUM CONTENT AND TALK ABOUT HAVING FILTERS FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE VACCINATED.

I KNOW WE RAN POLLS FROM OUR DATE AGO CADMY WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THEY WERE GOING TO PARTNER WITH DATING APPS HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT DATING SINGLES THAT ARE VACCINATED OR NOT.

66% THAT RESPONDED TO OUR POLL SAID THEY WANTED TO DATE PEOPLE THAT WERE VACCINATED AND THEY WOULD PREFERENCE THE PEOPLE AND ONE-THIRD DID NOT CARE.

IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING SUMMER TO SEE HOW IT PANS OUT.

>> AND WE'LL SEE HOW THE PANDEMIC CHANGED THE FUTURE OF DATING AS WE GET DOWN THE LINE.

THANKS TO BELA GANDHI FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

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

ABBREVIATED TO BRING YOU SPECIAL PLEDGE PROGRAMMING.

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.

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 FDA APPROVES A NEW DRUG TO TREAT ALZHEIMER'S EVEN THOUGH CRITICS ARE NOT CONVINCE TO DO WORKS FROM CORN ROWS TO BRAIDS, THE ART OF HAIR BRAIDING AND WHY IT'S MORE THAN JUST A HAIR STYLE.

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

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]