Good afternoon! It’s Wednesday, and I got a haircut for the first time in more than three months. Here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. A red-light camera company tied to a federal probe got coronavirus relief funds

Chicago-based SafeSpeed received between $1 million and $2 million from the Paycheck Protection Program, reports WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos. The company, which operates cameras in many suburbs surrounding the city, has repeatedly been named in the wide-ranging federal investigation that’s rocked Illinois politics in the past year.

Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval, a Democrat from Chicago, pleaded guilty in January to federal bribery and tax evasion charges tied to his “balls to the walls” support of the red-light camera industry.

Other camera firms also received large sums of federal aid. They include Redspeed Illinois of Lombard and Arizona-based Redflex Traffic Systems, which was Chicago’s first red-light camera contractor until it became embroiled in its own bribery scandal.

A controversial janitorial contractor at O’Hare International Airport also received money from the Paycheck Protection Program. [WBEZ]

2. U.S. reports more than 3 million cases of COVID-19

That’s more than the population of Chicago.

The grim milestone comes as a million confirmed cases have been reported in the U.S. in just the last month, reports NPR. And the nation’s death toll — more than 130,000 — is about as twice as high as any other country, according to Johns Hopkins University. [NPR]

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will issue new guidelines next week for reopening schools, Vice President Mike Pence said today.

The move comes after President Trump criticized a previous set of guidelines that he called “very tough & expensive.” The Trump administration is ramping up pressure for schools to reopen in the fall, saying it’s crucial for the country’s economic recovery.

Trump has threatened a federal intervention, but he has very limited options. About 90% of school funding comes from states and localities. [Washington Post]

In Illinois, officials reported 980 new cases today, the largest amount reported in a single day since early June. Officials also reported 36 new deaths.

Illinois has seen more than 149,000 known cases and more than 7,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. [WBEZ]

Today, Gov. JB Pritzker called for a national mandate on face masks before a Congressional panel. Pritzker also slammed the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic as a “sick Hunger Games game show.” [WBEZ]

3. Employers can opt out of birth control requirement in Obamacare, SCOTUS rules

The Supreme Court today upheld a Trump administration rule allowing employers with religious or moral objections to opt out of an Affordable Care Act requirement to provide contraceptive care.

That means 70,000 to 126,000 women could lose access to cost-free birth control, according to government estimates.

In a 7 to 2 vote, the Supreme Court ruled that the administration acted properly when it made the change. The two dissenting votes were Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor. [NPR]

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also ruled today that federal discrimination laws do not apply to teachers whose duties include religious instruction at schools run by churches. [NPR]

4. A Chicago public school removes a police officer in a first-of-its kind vote

Northside College Preparatory High School will begin the next academic year without a police officer, a move that comes amid a citywide debate over whether cops should be stationed inside public schools.

The school’s elected council unanimously voted this week to kick out the officer. The council includes parents, teachers, community members and a student.

Their decision comes after the Chicago Board of Education narrowly rejected an attempt last month by some board members to sever a $33 million contract that allows officers inside schools. But the contract is scheduled to expire soon, and the board will have to take another vote this summer on whether to renew the deal.

Supporters say cops help ensure the safety of schools. But critics point to research showing that the presence of officers has a negative impact on kids, particularly minority students. [Chicago Sun-Times]

5. The Chicago Police Department is reportedly creating a specialized unit amid violent summer

Police Superintendent David Brown wants to create a “permanent, specialized citywide unit to stop sudden flare-ups in violence and other crime,” reports the Chicago Tribune, citing anonymous officials. Details regarding the new unit have not been finalized, the newspaper reports.

The city had specialized teams of officers roaming the city, but the strategy was abandoned in 2011 due to concerns it worsened relationships between officers and community members.

Critics said the teams used aggressive tactics, and members of the infamous special operations section had been accused of breaking into homes and stealing. [Chicago Tribune]

Here’s what else is happening

• Chicago-based United Airlines warned it will lay off 36,000 employees in the fall. [AP]
• Law school grads in Illinois are asking the state’s Supreme Court to let them skip an upcoming bar exam because of the pandemic. [WBEZ]
• Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sued the Trump administration over a rule requiring international students to take in-person classes during a pandemic. [NPR]
• As expected, New York City public schools will not fully reopen in the fall. [New York Times]

Oh, and one more thing …

Do you remember the simpler times, when the biggest thing claiming the attention of Chicago was the saga of Chance the Snapper?

This week marks the anniversary of the alligator’s adventure in the Humboldt Park Lagoon, where crowds gathered for days to get a peek at Chance the Snapper until he was caught by trapper Frank “Alligator” Robb.

Block Club Chicago caught up with Robb to see how he and Chance the Snapper are doing. The reptile now lives at St. Augustine Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, Fla., where he has become one of the biggest attractions.

“People are still asking about him nonstop. … There’s so much love for the little fella, but he’s not exactly a little fella anymore,” Robb told Block Club Chicago. [Block Club Chicago]

Tell me something good …

July is usually a big month for movies, so I’d like to know: What are some of your favorite summer movies?

Matt Enloe writes:

“For favorite movies, summer or otherwise, I recommend Accepted. Justin Long graduates high school but doesn’t get into college, so he comes up with an idea to make his own. Hijinks ensue. The cast also features Jonah Hill, Blake Lively and Lewis Black, as well as Robin Lord Taylor (who went on to be The Penguin in Gotham). It never saw massive critical or commercial success, but it’s funny and heartwarming and a nice reminder that education comes in many forms.”

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

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