Hey there! It’s Friday — that glorious light at the end of the tunnel of existential dread known as the work week. Here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. Backlog causes Illinois to report more than 5,000 COVID-19 cases

The Illinois Department of Public Health today announced an astonishing 5,368 new coronavirus cases — the largest number reported in a single day — due to “a slowdown in data processing” that occurred earlier this week.

The significant slowdown happened when “data systems” were unable to keep up with the large number of tests being conducted in the state, the department said in a press release, adding the problem is now fixed.

The slowdown impacts the state’s seven-day average of cases, a metric that helps give a more accurate picture of how quickly infections are rising or dropping.

Before today, the number of new cases appeared to be barely rising. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, the average was 1,810 cases per day as of yesterday. That’s a 1% increase compared to the average two weeks ago.

But the average is now 2,270 cases per day. That’s a 24% increase from the average two weeks ago.

You can find more information about Illinois’ numbers in this link. [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, Chicago-area hospitals are preparing for the flu season and the possibility that cases of the flu and COVID-19 will rise in greater numbers. [Chicago Tribune]

And the Trump administration’s vaccine chief says it is “extremely unlikely but not impossible” that a vaccine will be ready before the end of October. [NPR]

2. Trump denies report that he called fallen soldiers “losers” and “suckers”

President Donald Trump has privately made a number of disparaging remarks about fallen soldiers and wounded veterans, according to a new report from The Atlantic. The magazine reports Trump described Americans who died in wars as “losers” and “suckers.”

“Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers,” Trump reportedly said to senior staff members when a visit to Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris was canceled at the last minute in 2018. [Atlantic]

The president said the report is “totally false.” But The Associated Press was able to match some of The Atlantic’s reporting. The AP reports “a senior U.S. Marine Corps officer who was told about Trump’s comments confirmed some of the remarks to The Associated Press, including the 2018 cemetery comments.” [AP]

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden blasted Trump in a series of statements and organized a conference call between reporters and Khizr Khan, a Gold Star father whose son died in 2004 during the Iraq War, and Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Purple Heart veteran who lost her legs in Iraq.

“I’m not shocked, but I am appalled,” Duckworth said. [CNBC]

3. Job growth slowed down last month

The U.S. added 1.4 million jobs in August, down from 1.7 million in July and 4.8 million in June, the Labor Department reported today. The news raises yet another red flag that the economic recovery from the pandemic may be slow and painful.

The unemployment rate fell to 8.4% last month from 10.2% in July. That drop brings the rate below the peak of the Great Recession, which briefly hit 10%.

But less than half of the 22 million jobs lost in the spring have returned, and more than 29 million people were collecting some form of unemployment benefits as of mid-August. [NPR]

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans remain divided as they try to craft a slimmed down coronavirus relief package. As The Washington Post reports, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s plan to subsidize private school tuition has become the latest threat to derail the GOP’s plan. [Washington Post]

4. Suspect in deadly Portland shooting is killed during arrest

A federal task force killed the suspect, 48-year-old Michael Forest Reinoehl, yesterday as they tried arresting him. Reinoehl was suspected in the fatal shooting of a supporter of a right-wing group in Portland, Ore., last week.

Authorities say Reinoehl pulled out a gun when the task force tried apprehending him. [AP]

Earlier yesterday, Vice News published an interview with Reinoehl in which he appears to admit to fatally shooting 39-year-old Aaron “Jay” Danielson.

“I had no choice. I mean, I, I had a choice. I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color. But I wasn’t going to do that,” Reinoehl said. [Vice]

5. About 8,000 Chicago cops will be on the street this weekend

Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown announced today that about 8,000 officers will work the Labor Day weekend, which traditionally has seen a flare up in violence. In order to get those cops on the street, Brown said he canceled days off and will put officers on 12-hour shifts.

Brown also said there will be a “strong” deployment of officers around retail areas, which have suffered from looting during summer unrest. Brown said city vehicles will also be used, if needed, to block any “caravans of looters” that were blamed for destruction on the Magnificent Mile last month. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• The Chicago area is at risk of an undercount in this year’s census, which could carry consequences to the region’s political representation and federal funding. [WBEZ]
• Billionaire Ken Griffin donated $20 million to a group fighting against Gov. JB Pritzker’s push to change the state’s flat income tax to a graduated system. [Chicago Tribune]
• Chicago Public Schools today announced a “record high” graduation rate for the previous academic year. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• The Rev. Leon Finney Jr., a South Side pastor who became a power player in Chicago politics, died today. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Oh, and one more thing …

WBEZ’s critically acclaimed Motive podcast is back with a new season that examines the origins of the youth white supremacist movement in America.

The first episode of the eight-part series is available today, and I’m looking forward to listening to it after I’m done writing this newsletter.

Here’s the episode’s description: “A shy kid from Chicago shaves his head and prepares for an inevitable race war. In the early 1980s, it looked like organized white supremacy was declining in the U.S. But a generation of racist skinheads breathed new life into the movement.”

New episodes will be released on Fridays, and you can find them on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

I don’t have to tell you these are some pretty stressful times. What do you do to relieve stress?

Suzanne Meyering writes:

“Every evening I call my 91-year-old mom. Despite many health challenges she is upbeat and interested in hearing about my day, telling me about hers and focusing on something positive, like the nice meal my sister prepared for her, or the call from a grandchild, or the book she is reading, or the White Sox game. She is shooting for 100, and that helps me take one day at a time.”

And Eileen tweets:

“To relieve stress I am going to try crocheting a baby blanket for a friend’s expected baby. I have not crocheted since my last grandchild was born in November 2013”

Thanks for all the responses this week! I’m sorry I couldn’t share all the messages, but it was nice hearing from y’all!

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