The Rundown For Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019

Lead in Chicago water
Virginia Tech researchers recently found that lead levels in the Chicago's tap water increased when water was left running for up to three minutes. Bill Healy / WBEZ
Lead in Chicago water
Virginia Tech researchers recently found that lead levels in the Chicago's tap water increased when water was left running for up to three minutes. Bill Healy / WBEZ

The Rundown For Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Good afternoon! It’s Wednesday, and the view from my new desk is a lot better than the one from my temporary desk. (What’s up with me and printers?) Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Running Chicago’s tap water for only 3 minutes can make lead problem worse

Researchers from Virginia Tech found that lead levels in the city’s tap water increased when water was left running for up to three minutes. The researchers also found that after three minutes of running water, the tested homes had more lead on average than Flint, Mich., during its 2015 water crisis.

A city spokeswoman said Chicago residents who have lead service lines should flush their water for five minutes after water has been stagnant for at least six hours.

The researchers conducted tests on the South Side this summer and found a third of homes examined had more lead in their water than would be allowed in bottled water. [WBEZ]

Here’s a look at how politics helped create lead problems in Chicago’s water, courtesy of our pals at Curious City. [WBEZ]

2. New U.S. rule means migrant families could be detained indefinitely

The Trump administration today said it will no longer honor a federal court agreement that limits how long migrant families can be detained.

That means families can be held indefinitely until their cases are resolved. The administration’s new policy also calls for cases to be decided comparatively quickly, preferably within about two months.

Critics worry that the policy change will further escalate problems at detention centers that are near capacity, like ones located near the border where children have been forced to sleep on pads on concrete floors. [NPR]

3. Trump is no longer considering a payroll tax cut

A day after saying he was eyeing a payroll tax cut in response to growing concerns about the economy, President Trump said today that’s no longer the case.

“We don’t need it. We have a strong economy,” Trump told reporters.

A payroll tax cut could put more money into workers’ paychecks and, as a result, theoretically further boost consumer spending that has helped prop up the economy. [Washington Post]

You might be asking yourself: Why is the Trump administration projecting an optimistic view of the economy when economists and investors appear increasingly worried? That because, when it comes to the government’s public remarks, the first rule of fight club is not to talk about fight club. [New York Times]

Meanwhile, a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Trump’s tariffs could slow economic growth in the U.S. The report also said the nation’s deficit could reach an average $1.2 trillion per year between 2020 and 2029. [CNBC]

4. The Amazon rainforest is burning at a record rate

The world’s largest rainforest that basically helps keep us alive has seen an 84% increase in fires since last year, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research.

The Amazon, often referred to as the Earth’s lungs, helps slow down the pace of climate change and is home to three million species of plants and animals.

Critics blame far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, saying he’s encouraged farmers and loggers to clear out land in the rainforest. [BBC]

5. Loyola’s Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt is 100 years old today

Sister Jean, who rose to international fame two years ago when Loyola’s men’s basketball team made an historic March Madness run, says her longevity is partly due to good genes; her father and his seven siblings all lived to be at least 95 years old.

She recently spoke with WBEZ and shared some life lessons, such as going to sleep at the same time every night, seeking out dogs when you’re homesick and not getting hung up on your age.

“You’re as old as you feel,” she said. [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

  • President Trump canceled a trip to Denmark after the country’s prime minister said Greenland is not for sale. [NPR]

  • The head of the Chicago Housing Authority abruptly resigned. [WBEZ]

  • Welcome to the Punderdome. [NPR]

  • Spider-Man’s future in Disney’s Marvel movies remains uncertain. [BBC]

Oh, and one more thing …

Locations used for filming Stranger Things are seeing an influx of tourists. Even though the Netflix hit takes place in Indiana, the TV series is actually filmed in Georgia.

The manager of Bradley’s Big Buy grocery store, where Eleven was filmed buying some Eggos, said fans from around the world stop by, sometimes dressed as the superpowered character. The manager said the store’s Eggo sales have tripled. [AP]

Tell me something good …

What’s your favorite cartoon, whether currently or from your childhood?

Leslie P. writes:

“My favorite cartoon is Rick and Morty. My dog and I actually dressed as them for Halloween last year. It was a hit!”

(Leslie was also very kind to send this pic of her adorable dog dressed as Rick.)

And Jennifer Zelenko writes:

“Current: Big Mouth, (spoiler) I honestly learned more about childhood depression watching this show than I ever thought I could, and helped me understand the crazy brains and hormones of kids going that very special bat-mitzvah aged period, despite having lived through the horror myself.

“Previous: SpongeBob. A classic. Humor that defined a generation. I stopped watching as I grew up, but will still laugh at the same silly jokes they taught me. also timeless because memes never die.”

What’s your favorite cartoon? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet me at @whuntah

Have a nice night! I’ll see you tomorrow.