Hey there! It’s Thursday, and my brain has so many wrinkles from this busy new week. Here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. Illinois sees largest number of COVID-19 cases in nearly two months

Known cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in Illinois. State officials today reported 1,624 new cases, the largest number reported since May 25, which saw 1,713 cases. Illinois also saw 20 new deaths, bringing the state’s total number of fatalities to 7,367. Nearly 167,000 cases have been reported in Illinois since March. [WBEZ]

Here’s a map of Illinois showing where infections are rising. [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, more than 4 million coronavirus infections have been reported in the U.S., reports The New York Times. If all of those people lived in the same area, it would be the third largest city in the U.S. Cases are rising in 39 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. [NYT]

And the possibility that the coronavirus can travel through air conditioning and heating systems complicates efforts to reopen Chicago’s local economy. [Chicago Tribune]

2. Senate Republicans and White House fail to reach agreement over new coronavirus relief plan

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was expected to unveil a $1 trillion GOP-backed relief proposal today, but Republican senators and the White House failed to reach an agreement over what they want, sending both sides scrambling to find a path forward.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, the lead negotiators for the White House, insisted both sides had reached a fundamental agreement over key elements. But they suggested a piecemeal approach, where Congress would vote on various parts of a relief plan separately, an idea that faces bipartisan opposition.

The setback comes as enhanced unemployment benefits for tens of millions of Americans are set to expire on July 31. Mnuchin said the GOP’s plan would replace only about 70% of a worker’s lost income, which could reduce the extra $600 per week that many jobless Americans currently receive.

House Democrats have proposed extending the beefed-up unemployment payments to the end of the year. [Washington Post]

3. Weekly jobless claims rose in the U.S. for first time in three months

More than 1.4 million Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week, up from about 1.3 million the week before, according to Labor Department figures released today. An additional 975,000 claims were also filed last week from self-employed workers, an increase of nearly 20,000 compared to the previous week.

The increase comes as state and local leaders across the U.S. are once again shuttering businesses to combat a rise in COVID-19 infections. The jobless figures today also have a heightened importance: They will factor prominently in the Labor Department’s jobs report for June and the unemployment rate. [NPR]

In Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker recently warned a nationwide fraud scheme is targeting unemployed residents. Click this link to learn what you can do if you believe a fake jobless claim was filed for you. [WTTW]

Meanwhile, the parent company of Ann Taylor, Loft and Lane Bryant became the latest retailer to file for bankruptcy during the pandemic. [NPR]

4. A majority of Americans support face mask requirements, poll finds

Three out of four Americans favor face mask requirements in public spaces, according to a poll released today from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The survey also found 58% of Republicans also support face mask requirements. The poll was conducted before President Trump began wearing face masks in public after long insisting he would not wear one.

Most Americans — 66% — support limiting gatherings, and about half support stay-at-home orders and closing bars and restaurants. The poll also found that nearly three-quarters of Americans say slowing the spread of the coronavirus outweighs concerns about damaging the economy.

And like other recent polls, today’s survey found a majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s response to the pandemic. [AP]

Meanwhile, can widespread use of face masks prevent more lockdowns? Here’s what scientists say. [NPR]

And Indiana, Minnesota and Ohio joined other Midwestern states in requiring face masks in public. [NPR]

5. AMC Theatres pushes reopening to mid to late August

The nation’s largest movie theater chain today announced it will postpone reopening its cinemas as a surge in COVID-19 cases has caused movie studios to further push back some big budget films.

AMC Theatres had hoped to begin opening its theaters this month. The company’s decision comes after Warner Bros. this week indefinitely postponed its much anticipated blockbuster Tenet. [Hollywood Reporter]

That film had been seen by some studio executives as something of a canary in the coal mine. Warner Bros. had previously held firm on releasing the film this summer, and Hollywood hoped it would signal the public’s return to theaters.

“If Tenet doesn’t come out or doesn’t succeed, every other company goes home,” a marketing executive from a rival studio told The Washington Post in May. “It’s no movies until Christmas.” [Washington Post]

Here’s what else is happening

• Federal prosecutors subpoenaed AT&T earlier this year as part of a growing probe encircling Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s political operation. [Chicago Tribune]
• A federal judge today ordered Michael Cohen be released from prison, saying he believed the government retaliated against him for planning to release a book about President Trump. [AP]
• Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis cop charged in the murder of George Floyd, faces charges of felony tax evasion. [NPR]
• China hopes to complete its first successful mission to Mars. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

Note to self: If I’m going to fake my own death, run the bogus death certificate through spell check.

Robert Berger, a 25-year-old man from Long Island, allegedly botched his attempt at faking his death by misspelling the New Jersey Department of Health, Vital Statistics and Registry. The certificate spelled “registry” as “regsitry,” prosecutors say. The document also used different typefaces and sizes.

Berger tried faking his death to avoid a jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a stolen Lexus and trying to steal a truck, prosecutors said. He now faces an additional four years in prison. [AP]

Tell me something good …

What fun summer things are you doing while also being mindful of the ongoing pandemic?

Melanie Holmes writes:

“Inspired by a friend in NYC whose neighbor set up a movie screen on their multi-residence rooftop, my husband and I are having neighbors over on Saturday for a socially-distanced, outdoor movie. It’s BYOB and fresh air, baby. And if it goes well, we will do this most Saturdays until the snow flies.”

And Donna Granback writes:

“We are cycling on our road bikes and our hybrids, roads and woodsy trails, sometimes with Downers Grove Bicycle Club, sometimes just my hubby and me. It’s healthy, fun and uplifting!”

How are you enjoying summer (while it lasts)? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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