Hey there, it’s Wednesday … just Wednesday! And WBEZ wants to know what issues in the election matter to you most. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Trump and Fox News hosts launch racist and sexist attacks on Kamala Harris

President Donald Trump in the past 24 hours has repeatedly called Sen. Kamala Harris “nasty,” a term he often uses against women.

And the president sent a racially charged tweet this morning claiming that presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden would tap another prominent Black senator, Cory Booker, to be in charge of low-income housing in the suburbs, a message that plays on racist fears of integration, reports The New York Times.

Several Fox News hosts and anchors last night attacked Harris on everything from the pronunciation of her first name to Biden’s focus on choosing a woman of color. [New York Times]

Harris had long been seen as the obvious choice for Biden, but Trump’s apparent struggle to find an effective line of attack indicates Republicans did not have a coordinated plan. Trump has accused Harris of being both a moderate and a radical Democrat. [AP]

The historic decision to have Harris on the Democratic ticket shows Biden is willing to work with people who have disagreed with him, reports NPR in this analysis. Click the link for more takeaways. [NPR]

2. Scientists say they’ve found evidence supporting theory that airborne COVID-19 can be infectious

A team of virologists and scientists at the University of Florida say they have found proof that floating respiratory droplets in the air can contain live virus.

The news comes as many health experts believe airborne transmission of the virus plays a huge role in the spread of infections. The findings have not been peer reviewed, but they are being taken seriously by scientists who are racing to understand how COVID-19 works.

“If this isn’t a smoking gun, then I don’t know what is,” said Dr. Linsey Marr, an expert in airborne spread of viruses who was not involved with the team. [New York Times]

Meanwhile in Illinois, state officials announced 1,645 new cases and 16 additional deaths. Illinois has seen a seven-day average of 1,768 cases per day, which is 23% higher than the average two weeks ago, according to The New York Times.

In Chicago, the weekly average in cases appears to be staying about the same. According to data compiled by Crain’s Chicago Business, the city is seeing an average of 316 cases per day. You can find more information about Illinois infections in this link. [WBEZ]

3. Three men charged for allegedly bribing and threatening R. Kelly victims

Federal prosecutors in New York say three men engaged in separate schemes to “intimidate, threaten or corruptly influence” alleged victims in the racketeering case against R&B singer R. Kelly.

The men charged are Richard Arline, Jr., of Dolton, Donnell Russell, of Chicago, and Michael Williams, of Valdosta, Ga.

The separate criminal complaints against the men include several disturbing allegations. One man is accused of setting fire to an SUV belonging to one victim. Another man allegedly sent a letter to one of the victim’s lawyers that included nude photos of the victim. The letter said the photos were cropped “for the sake of not exposing her extremities to the world, yet!!!” according to the complaint.

The men are expected to appear in federal court at a later date. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces. [AP]

4. Feds subpoena property records connected to a Chicago alderman

And it’s not just any alderman.

Federal investigators issued a grand jury subpoena for “mortgage records pertaining to the home of 11th Ward Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson — the same bungalow in Bridgeport where the alderman’s grandfather Richard J. Daley and his family lived when he was Chicago’s most famous mayor,” reports WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos and Tony Arnold. The feds also sought records for two other properties connected to Thompson.

The alderman told WBEZ he does not know why investigators are seeking the information, but the Chicago Sun-Times reported that authorities were looking at Thompson as part of their probe into a failed neighborhood bank that made a loan for a building owned by the 11th Ward Regular Democratic Organization. The ward organization is led by Thompson’s uncle John Daley, who’s also a Cook County commissioner. [WBEZ]

5. Chicago’s monuments will be reviewed as part of a “racial healing” project, mayor says

Mayor Lori Lightfoot today announced the formation of an advisory committee that will review public monuments and commission “a series of temporary public artworks that focus on a broader range of topics around COVID-19, inequality and racial reconciliation.”

The committee will be headed by Mark Kelly, who is the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; Bonnie McDonald, president and CEO of Landmarks Illinois; and Jennifer Scott, director and chief curator of Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.

The move comes weeks after protesters and police officers clashed in Grant Park near a statue of Christopher Columbus. Lightfoot later ordered statues of Columbus be removed in the middle of the night. [Chicago Tribune]

WBEZ’s Curious City looked at what other problematic statues and monuments are located in the city. Here’s what they found. [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

• President Trump’s delay of payroll taxes means workers will see a bump in their take-home pay, but you might not want to spend that money. [NPR]
• Here’s a look at racial healing circles that aim to create spaces for people to have safe conversations about racial injustice. [WBEZ]
• E-scooters are back in Chicago. [Block Club Chicago]
• I’ve been watching these all day. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

Man, I wish I could watch a classic ’90s movie with all of my friends who I haven’t seen in person in … (checks calendar and stares aimlessly into the distance) … six months.

Luckily, Nerdette Recaps with Peter Sagal is back! Greta Johnsen, Tricia Bobeda and (you guessed it) Peter Sagal are recapping movies from an era that saw AOL, the Backstreet Boys, Magic Eye and Beanie Babies. This new season of Recaps kicks off with the very fashionable Clueless, and there are a ton of other great ’90s movies lined up for future episodes.

Take a listen and pretend you haven’t been confined to your home for what feels like eternity. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

I have to do a self-evaluation for my performance review at work. And that has me thinking: What do you miss about working from the office?

Kathleen writes:

“Absolutely nothing.

“Working at home means I can be productive when I feel productive and get the sleep that I need and spend more time with my child. It means I can drop everything to do a noon virtual yoga class or go for a run before I start my work day, whereas before, as a working mother it was either hitting the grocery store on the way home or hitting the gym to squeeze in a 30 minute workout before picking up my child before his aftercare closed. Working at home means I can wear yoga pants and comfy tops 99% of the time. Working at home means I can breathe.”

What do you miss about working from the office? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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