Good afternoon! It’s Tuesday, and can you imagine what the last six months would have been like if Illinois hadn’t legalized weed? Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Trump ends negotiations over coronavirus relief

President Donald Trump today called off negotiations over a new relief package despite warnings from economists that the country’s economic recovery is slowing down.

Trump said talks will not resume until after the Nov. 3 election, and he accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of negotiating in bad faith after she refused the administration’s latest offer.

Today’s news means millions of Americans who are out of work may not see new aid any time soon. [Washington Post]

On Wall Street, stocks fell after news broke that stimulus negotiations were called off. Earlier today, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell urged Congress and the White House to reach a deal and prevent further economic hardships for Americans. [CNBC]

The breakdown in negotiations comes as Trump’s lead over Democratic nominee Joe Biden on the economy has evaporated, according to a CNN poll. Among registered voters, both candidates were tied at 49% on who would better handle the economy. [CNN]

In other election news, Trump said he plans to attend the second presidential debate scheduled for Oct. 15, which would be two weeks after he first tested positive. The president’s doctors today said Trump is showing no symptoms and his vital signs are stable. [NPR]

In another tweet, Trump said the coronavirus is “far less lethal” than the flu, which he suggested could kill more 100,000 people.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 24,000 and 62,000 flu-related deaths take place each year. COVID-19 has so far has killed more than 210,000 people in the United States and more than one million people worldwide. [New York Times]

Meanwhile, Biden is expected to deliver a speech later today in Gettysburg, Pa., the site of the bloodiest battle during the Civil War. Biden says the speech will be about “the soul of America and racial equality” and “what significant trouble we’re in.” [Washington Post]

2. “Pandemic fatigue” affects parts of Europe, WHO says

The World Health Organization today warned of growing apathy in Europe as some countries revive coronavirus restrictions in an effort to contain a second wave. The WHO says many people are experiencing “pandemic fatigue” and feeling less motivated to follow safety precautions.

The warning comes as new outbreaks are emerging across Europe, and government efforts to curb the spread have led to protests in countries like Spain and Germany. [BBC]

In the U.S., just four states — Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri and South Carolina — are seeing declines in coronavirus cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. [CNN]

In Illinois, an average of 2,037 cases are being reported each day, an 8% increase compared to the average two weeks ago. [New York Times]

And Chicago officials today advised residents against traveling to Indiana, which may be added to the city’s quarantine list next week. [Chicago Tribune]

3. Two justices denounce SCOTUS decision legalizing same-sex marriage

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito appeared to urge the nation’s high court to reconsider its landmark decision in 2015’s Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage.

Thomas, writing a recent opinion for himself and Alito, said the court’s decision “enables courts and governments to brand religious adherents who believe that marriage is between one man and one woman as bigots, making their religious liberty concerns that much easier to dismiss.”

The two justices issued their opinion in a case regarding Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The Supreme Court turned down her appeal, and Thomas and Alito agreed with that decision.

The broadside from the two justices comes as the Senate prepares to move forward with confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who has indicated she disagrees with the court’s 2015 decision. [NPR]

4. Chicago blows through its budget for government overtime

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration has spent at least $222 million on overtime for city workers so far this year, reports the Chicago Tribune.

That’s past the $180 million budgeted for overtime costs in this year’s budget, and much of the spending has been caused by the Lightfoot administration’s approach to civil unrest over the summer, the Trib reports. The city’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in driving up overtime.

The news comes as the city’s finances have been decimated by the pandemic, resulting in a $800 million deficit in this year’s budget and a $1.2 billion shortfall in next year’s budget. Lightfoot is expected later this month to unveil her plan for closing the budget gap, and she has not ruled out rising property taxes and laying off city workers. [Chicago Tribune]

5. Chicago Teachers Pension Fund was allegedly asked to hire ex-Madigan staffers

The board president of the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund made a series of extraordinary allegations that the agency is afflicted with “a culture of intimidation, intentional misinformation, discrimination, slander, misogyny, fear-mongering, blatant racism, sexism and retaliatory actions,” reports Crain’s Chicago Business.

Board President Jeffrey Blackwell also said trustees were asked by unnamed members of the Chicago Teachers Union to hire former staffers of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as lobbyists. It was not immediately clear if those trustees hired the former staffers and, if so, felt pressured to do so.

Blackwell’s remarks were made during an August board meeting that was recently posted online. The pension fund provides about $1.5 billion a year in benefits to Chicago’s public school teachers.

The allegation comes as state lawmakers are investigating connections between Madigan and utility giant ComEd, which admitted in federal court that it gave jobs to close associates of Madigan as part of a bribery scheme to curry favor with him. Madigan has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing. [Crain’s]

Here’s what else is happening

• The availability of affordable housing on Chicago’s South Side faces an uncertain future after hundreds of units were recently sold to two investment firms. [WBEZ]
• A former University of Chicago researcher won a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” and wants to study how violence affects women on the South Side. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Chicago-based Second City is up for sale. [WBEZ]
• More movies are being pushed back to next year due to the pandemic, deepening the financial uncertainty facing theaters. [AP]

Oh, and one more thing …

I recently got my mail-in ballot, and I completely forgot about the hard part: electing Cook County judges, which takes up about half the ballot.

There are several guides for voters to help them make informed decisions instead of just winging it.

Injustice Watch, a nonprofit organization that reports on criminal justice and equality, released a voter guide today that provides more information on judges, such as past controversies and whether they’ve received negative ratings from bar associations. You can find the guide here, and there’s also a Spanish language version here.

The Chicago Bar Association, Chicago Council of Lawyers and Illinois State Bar Association have also released their own voter guides. WTTW compiled this handy list of judges who received high and low rankings from all three groups.

Tell me something good …

The weather this week looks like it will be amazing. Are you planning anything fun before we say goodbye to the sun for what feels like six months?

Patricia writes with this wonderful news:

“My 36-year-old daughter gave birth [Monday morning] to a 6.5 lb./19 in. boy (her first) who is already a joy and blessing to our family. Shout out to Kate and Frank — you two were meant to be! Because of Covid, we had to have an online baby shower, which was fun but no substitute for being together, and I was only able to see her in person once during her pregnancy, which was hard as a mother whose baby is having a baby. But God willing, I’ll see them both very soon! Welcome, little Benjamin Francis Pearson!!”

And Deniz Menemenci writes:

“My husband and I are taking a day off from work on Friday to enjoy the last bit of sunshine before the dreadful cold weather hits Chicago. We will bike up to Botanic Gardens and take in all the beauty. Who knows, maybe we can even manage to do a news/social media cleanse while we’re at it.”

Got any fun plans this week? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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