Good afternoon! It’s Monday. I had to fill out a form that asked my hair color, and I LOL’d like there was no tomorrow when I realized my hair is no longer brown but gray. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Chicago officials prepare for a potential spike in COVID-19 cases

The next two weeks could determine whether Chicago moves forward with easing more coronavirus restrictions or suffers a setback.

That’s because the city’s decision to lift some restrictions coincided with massive protests against police brutality after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Coronavirus symptoms generally emerge within two weeks, and hospitals are bracing for a possible spike in cases within that time frame.

Dr. Allison Arwady, the city’s public health commissioner, told WBEZ that if a surge in cases begins to overwhelm hospitals, the city may need to reimpose restrictions that were just lifted. But she said there are alternative options. Check out this story to learn what those options are and how hospitals are preparing for the worst. [WBEZ]

Today, Illinois officials announced 23 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total number of fatalities to 5,924. Officials also announced 658 new cases after 16,099 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. Illinois has seen a total of 128,415 known cases since the beginning of the pandemic. [WBEZ]

Worldwide, deaths from COVID-19 have surpassed 400,000. [NPR]

2. Congressional Democrats unveil major police reforms

The proposed legislation would prohibit officers from using chokeholds and establish a nationwide database tracking police misconduct, among other things.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed to quickly pass the legislation in the Democratic-controlled House, but it’s not clear if the Republican-majority Senate will pick up the measure.

The proposed legislation, called the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, would also make it easier to hold cops accountable for misconduct in civil and criminal courts. [NPR]

Officers and other government officials are shielded from lawsuits over their conduct under a doctrine known as “qualified immunity.” Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas have called for a reexamination of that doctrine. [NPR]

3. Police shoot and kill about 1,000 people a year in the U.S.

That’s according to an analysis from The Washington Post, which looked at data going back to 2015. The newspaper found that the number of fatal police shootings remained consistent despite calls for police reforms, such as better police training on de-escalating situations.

The Post found that an overwhelming majority of people killed are armed, and almost half of the people fatally shot are white. [Washington Post]

Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently vowed to cut funding to the city’s police department, which has a $6 billion budget, and use some of that money for social services. [NPR]

In Minneapolis, a veto-proof majority of the City Council pledged to “dismantle” the city’s police department. [NPR]

4. Thousands of mourners expected for George Floyd’s memorial in Houston

A six-hour public viewing of George Floyd’s body began today in Houston, where Floyd lived for much of his life. Mourners stood 6 feet apart as they waited to see Floyd’s body in an open gold-colored casket.

Floyd’s burial is scheduled for tomorrow in a suburb outside of Houston, where he will be laid to rest next to his mother. Former Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Houston and privately met with Floyd’s family. [AP]

5. So about the federal jobs report …

The jobs report released on Friday contained a “misclassification error” that made the unemployment rate for May appear better than it is, reports The Washington Post.

If not for the error, the widely reported 13.3% jobless rate would have been 3 percentage points higher at 16.3%, according to a note attached to the jobs report. But that still means the unemployment rate dropped last month from April, which would have been about 19.7% if the same standards are applied.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is responsible for the monthly jobs report, told the Post that it is “investigating why this misclassification error continues to occur.” [Washington Post]

Meanwhile, the U.S. economy officially entered a recession in February, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. [NPR]

Here’s what else is happening

• New York City began lifting coronavirus restrictions. [NPR]
• JK Rowling is once again accused of transphobia. [NBC News]
• Reebok is cutting ties with CrossFit after the fitness program’s CEO sparked outrage with his controversial “Floyd-19” tweet. [CNN]
• The head of The New York Times editorial page resigned after publishing a controversial opinion piece by Republican Sen. Tom Cotton. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

Oh yes, high school graduations are happening and also not happening right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To help give the class of 2020 a sendoff, WBEZ is holding a weeklong event called #ChiGradWeek that begins today.

From Tuesday through Thursday, WBEZ will air conversations with students about adults who had a huge impact on their lives. Then on Friday, we’re airing a commencement speech written and voiced by graduates across the Chicago area. Friday also includes a sing-along and dance party from 9 p.m. to midnight.

On Sunday, WBEZ’s website will livestream Chicago’s virtual graduation ceremony, which will be emceed by Chicago Hamilton star Miguel Cervantes and includes a commencement speech by Oprah Winfrey. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

We’re seeing some great weather lately, and I’d like to know: What is your favorite summer treat?

Mine is a mint julep on a Friday evening with all the windows up, the breeze coming into the apartment and the sweet siren song of the Karaoke Queen playing.

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

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