Hey there! It’s Friday, and my husband is glad I’m back at work because I kept interrupting his Maggie Smith movie marathon. Here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. Russia wants Trump reelected, intel officials say

U.S. intelligence officials warned House lawmakers that Russia is meddling in this year’s election to help President Donald Trump, according to The Associated Press, which cited three officials who attended the closed-door meeting.

Trump today criticized the widely reported news, saying it’s “another misinformation campaign” from Democrats.

The Associated Press, The New York Times and The Washington Post all reported that Trump privately became angry when he learned House lawmakers were briefed last week on Russia’s election interference. Trump reportedly berated Joseph Maguire, the now outgoing director of national intelligence. The president announced this week that Richard Grenell, a Trump loyalist, will replace Maguire. [AP]

Officials have also told Sen. Bernie Sanders that Russia is trying to help his presidential campaign. [Washington Post]

2. Nevada prepares for tomorrow’s caucuses

And Democratic officials and voters are hoping the caucuses are not a repeat of the embarrassing disaster that overshadowed Iowa’s caucuses.

Nevada’s Democratic Party had planned on using software designed by the same company behind Iowa’s meltdown, but officials ditched those plans, leaving them with less than three weeks to create a new plan.

“This will not be like Iowa,” one caucus volunteer told The Washington Post. [Washington Post]

WBEZ will air special coverage of tomorrow’s caucuses beginning at 4 p.m. CST. You can also find the latest news from Nevada at this link. [NPR]

3. Longtime Madigan aides discussed placing loyalists at ComEd

WBEZ obtained nearly 1,200 pages of emails that show Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s longtime top aide, Tim Mapes, discussed placing political loyalists at ComEd. The emails also show that former ComEd and Exelon lobbyist Michael McClain, a longtime Madigan friend, acted as both a conduit for those job questions and essentially as a full-time staffer in the speaker’s government office. [WBEZ]

The news comes as federal authorities are investigating whether ComEd made politically connected hires — some with ties to Madigan — in exchange for favorable government actions in Springfield.

WBEZ learned this week that federal authorities have expanded their investigation to suburban Bridgeview, where officials received a grand jury subpoena for documents involving Madigan and four men who have close ties with the House speaker. [WBEZ]

4. World Health Organization sounds alarm over global spread of coronavirus

The head of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the window of opportunity to contain the outbreak is “narrowing.” His comments come as Iran announced the country has seen a total of four deaths from the virus. So far, there are 1,552 confirmed cases and eight deaths outside of China.

The virus has spread to 26 countries, including South Korea, which is seeing the biggest cluster of confirmed cases apart from China and the Diamond Princess cruise ship that’s quarantined in Japan. [BBC]

5. The Starved Rock killer is free

Chester Weger, who served nearly 60 years in prison for the 1960 murders of three housewives at Starved Rock State Park, was set free today. Weger received a life sentence for one of the murders, but the Illinois Prisoner Review Board granted him parole last fall.

Weger, now 80, insisted he was framed for the murders in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.

“They ruined my life,” Weger told the Trib. “They locked me up for 60 years for something I’ve never done.”

Several relatives of Weger’s victims had protested against his early release. Weger is expected to check in today at St. Leonard’s Ministries on the Near West Side. [Chicago Tribune]

Here’s what else is happening

• Jurors in Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial indicated they are deadlocked on the most serious charges. [AP]

• Rod Blagojevich refashioned himself as a criminal justice advocate this week, but his record as governor tells a different story. [Washington Post]

• For the first time in more than a decade, the waitlist for public housing in suburban Cook County is open. [WBEZ]

• It’s Friday, and that means there’s a new episode of WBEZ’s Motive. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

Here’s some news that in no way is aimed at my employer: Four-day work weeks are becoming a thing in the U.S.

Some American companies are trying out four-day work weeks and are seeing “seeing surprising benefits, including higher sales and profits,” reports NPR (to probably no one’s surprise).

Who is among these revolutionary, innovative companies giving out three-day weekends to employees? Glad you asked, because one is the fast food burger joint known as Shake Shack, which cut back to 32-hour work weeks without trimming paychecks. [NPR]

Tell me something good …

What’s a weird, hilarious or unusual memory from your childhood that you look back on and think, man, things have really changed?

Janice Mele writes:

“Growing up in the Back of the Yards neighborhood in the ’60s, I have a vivid memory of having to walk in the street past an area where the wind had sprayed bloody guts onto the sidewalk from the shoot coming out of the slaughterhouse.

“Yes, there was a hog slaughterhouse on the corner of the block I grew up on. I would also ride my bike to the Stockyards and pet the cattle. Talk about changing times in the heart of Chicago!”

Thank you so much to everyone who reached out this week. Y’all have some great stories!

Thanks for reading and have a nice night! I’ll see you on Monday!