Hey there! It’s Friday, and this is what it’s like to be married to me. But seriously, where do the crawdads sing? Anyway, here’s what you need to know today.

1. The underage girl at the center of R. Kelly’s 2008 trial finally tells her story

To understand the current trial of disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly, we need to go back to 2008.

Kelly was facing child pornography charges in Cook County after a videotape emerged of him performing sex acts on an underage girl. She never testified in the trial, and a jury found Kelly not guilty.

But the alleged victim, who is now 37 years old, finally told her story this week as federal prosecutors accuse Kelly of intimidating her and her family into denying the abuse.

Known only as “Jane,” the woman told jurors Kelly abused her “uncountable … hundreds” of times, beginning when she was 14 years old. When asked why she was finally telling her story, she said, “I became exhausted with living with his lies.”

At one point in her four-hour testimony, the woman described a dramatic scene in which Kelly, learning the damning video was about to go public in 2002, apologized to the girl and her parents and begged their forgiveness.

The woman’s father told Kelly he couldn’t help him, but her parents ultimately sided with Kelly because they couldn’t afford lawyers and “didn’t want to lose me,” she said. [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. Illinois Democrats took campaign cash from pharma companies implicated in the opioid crisis

That’s according to a Chicago Sun-Times investigation, which found that “Illinois politicians keep taking campaign money from Johnson & Johnson and other companies paying $26 billion to settle lawsuits that accused them of fueling the opioid crisis.”

Among those politicians is Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, a Democrat from suburban Oak Park. Harmon would not talk about the campaign contributions, and a spokesman said in a statement that “no donation from any source will ever compromise his values.”

The news comes as Illinois is expected to receive an estimated $760 million from the $26 billion settlement. That money will be put toward drug-abuse treatment and prevention. [Chicago Sun-Times]

3. After a string of accidents, authorities say no new safety regulations are needed for Lake Michigan’s ‘Playpen’

A man missing after falling into the lake. A mother who lost her legs after being sucked under a 37-foot yacht.

These recent accidents and others have raised safety concerns about the “Playpen,” a party boat hotspot just north of Chicago’s Navy Pier.

But authorities this week said they are not considering new regulations, instead stressing personal responsibility, reports the Chicago Tribune.

“With crowds expected at this weekend’s Chicago Air and Water Show and the upcoming Labor Day weekend, officials are asking boaters, swimmers and other water recreationists to be responsible and stay safe while enjoying the lake,” the Tribune reports. [Chicago Tribune]

4. The Biden administration is using an untested vaccine strategy for monkeypox amid a shortage of doses

As monkeypox cases surpass 14,000 in the U.S., White House officials recently announced plans to expand access to vaccine doses in the hopes of curbing the outbreak.

To do this, officials are pushing to squeeze five doses out of single-dose vials.

Some health officials say they need more time to examine the data, train providers and get the right equipment.

“It’s just mechanically difficult to do,” says Dr. Mark Del Beccaro, assistant deputy chief for public health in Seattle and King County. [NPR]

In Chicago, public health officials are reporting a total of 720 monkeypox cases in the city. Of those, 42 people were hospitalized, but there have been no deaths. [CDPH]

5. Here comes the Chicago Air and Water Show

The show is back this weekend and at full-scale for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Two million people are expected to gather by the lakefront for the free event,” reports my colleague Courtney Kueppers. “And, even though the weekend’s forecast is calling for rain, organizers say the show will go on.”

Courtney has a great guide for the event for people “eager to watch the dozens of air acts in amazement or are among those already loathing the decibel hike.” [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

• Republican gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey once again called Chicago a “hellhole.” [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Statues of Christopher Columbus should not return to Chicago’s parks, according to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s commission on monuments. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Despite the promise of universal pre-K for CPS, enrollment lags in Chicago’s neediest areas. [WBEZ]
• WBEZ won two national Murrow Awards for its investigations into allegations of abuse by Chicago lifeguards. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

I have been craving fantasy movies lately, and there aren’t a lot of good ones that I haven’t seen already. I literally went through all The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies all over again because I just need … something.

Luckily, the new Game of Thrones show, House of the Dragon, is out this weekend on HBO and it’s supposed to be good.

I’m a little cautious after how Game of Thrones ended, but Chicago Sun-Times critic Richard Roeper writes the show is “a spectacularly entertaining adventure.” [Chicago Sun-Times]

And coincidentally, WBEZ’s Greta Johnsen is co-hosting HBO’s official podcast for the new show. [HBO]

Tell me something good …

I saw Lady Gaga at Wrigley Field this week. And I’d like to know what is one of your favorite concerts or shows you’ve seen.

Mary Lynn writes:

“I saw the B-52s at the Riv in the ’80s. It was unbelievable, and the crowd was going bananas. Sooo much dancing! The band was obviously saving ‘Rock Lobster’ for the encore, and my friend said, ‘We better move to a safer spot or we’re gonna get hurt!’ I loved it.”

Dee writes:

“In 2018, I went with my best friend to see David Byrne; American Utopia Tour. There we stood, two older women in their 60s, out of our seats for much of the show as we swayed to the music, and we were reminded of the magic embedded in great music and great musicians. The whole show was an amazement. Every musician on stage helped create a space that felt holy. They were as moved, it seemed, as we were.”

Jeffrey M. writes:

“I saw Chicago rapper Showyousuck at Subterranean a few years ago and it was by far one of the most fun shows I’ve ever seen! They have such a fun energy and sense of humor and really included the audience, such a great time!

“The other one I immediately thought of was Canadian punk band PUP, who I saw at the Bottom Lounge in 2018. They are one of my all-time favorite bands and it was my first time seeing them live, and I don’t think I’ve seen a packed venue more in sync and having a blast than when they were playing, a truly memorable experience!”

And WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos texted me:

“One of the most memorable shows I’ve been to was Smashing Pumpkins at Metro around the time Siamese Dream was released in August 1993. Went to a Cubs game and then to Metro, which I think was known at the time as Cabaret Metro. Someone announced at the show that the new album had charted and was the biggest release from a Chicago artist since Survivor!”

Thanks for all the responses this week. I’m sorry I couldn’t include them all, but it was nice hearing from you.