Good afternoon. My grandfather passed away. He was a veteran of WWII, raised five kids and once saved my brother and me from a rabid armadillo when we were children. Here’s what’s in the news today.

1. Chicago Police are seeking a ‘person of interest’ in the weekend killing of an officer

Officer Luis Huesca was returning home from work early Sunday when he was shot and killed in an apparent carjacking, my colleagues at the Chicago Sun-Times report.

Huesca had been on the police force for six years and was just two days away from his 31st birthday.

Investigators were able to locate Huesca’s Toyota 4Runner. But the officer’s gun and badge were missing, sources told the Sun-Times.

The Chicago Police Department began circulating photographs of a person of interest, asking officials to help identify a male “subject” seen wearing different clothing in two photos that appear to have been taken from private security cameras, my colleague Tom Schuba reports.

According to an internal department alert, the person “should be considered armed and dangerous,” but it acknowledges that detectives have “no probable cause to arrest at this time.” [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. Illinois is now home to a federally recognized tribal nation

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is the state’s first federally recognized tribal nation after a federal decision placed 130 acres into trust, my colleague Violet Miller reports.

That means the land — which is about 70 miles west of Chicago — will be governed by the tribal nation, which is now eligible for federal benefits and protections as a result.

“We have been asking for this recognition and for what is rightfully ours for nearly 200 years, and we are grateful to the U.S. Department of Interior for this,” Prairie Band Chairman Joseph Rupnick said.

Rupnick is the fourth-generation great grandson of Chief Shab-eh-nay, who had the land taken away from him. About 175 years ago, the U.S. government auctioned off nearly 1,300 acres of land while Chief Shab-eh-nay visited family in Kansas, according to the tribal nation. [Chicago Sun-Times]

3. The Supreme Court weighs whether cities can punish the homeless for sleeping outside

Justices today heard arguments in a case over whether governments can enforce laws prohibiting homeless people from sleeping in public spaces.

And a decision in the case “could have sweeping implications for the record number of people living in tents and cars, and the cities and states struggling to manage them,” NPR reports. [NPR]

Earlier this month, nearly 30 Illinois advocacy groups filed an amicus brief in the case, saying that fining or jailing those who sleep outside will not help fix homelessness, my colleague Esther Yoon-Ji Kang reports.

“We want to make sure that the Supreme Court sees that solution-driven approaches are more effective and that these punitive approaches really don’t do anything to solve homelessness,” said Camilla Krauss, an attorney with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and one of the drafters of the brief. [WBEZ]

The New York Times reports that the Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared inclined to uphold the laws. [NYT]

4. The Chicago Bears prepare for this week’s NFL Draft

The Bears have the No. 1 overall pick and are expected to draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams in “a move they hope will change everything for the hapless franchise,” my colleague Jason Lieser writes.

The first round of the draft takes place Thursday evening in Detroit. And the Bears will get to make a second selection in the No. 9 spot.

“The scenario at No. 9 is uncontrollable and far less predictable,” Lieser reports. “It’ll only begin to become clear in the hour or so leading up to it, and the actual options won’t be known until the Bears are on the clock with 10 minutes to make a decision.”

The uncertainty would benefit the Bears, but Bears general manager Ryan Poles will have to be prepared for every scenario to get the most out of the No. 9 pick. [Chicago Sun-Times]

5. The remains of a Chicago-area soldier who died during WWII have been identified

After 81 years, a Chicago-area soldier who died during World War II can be laid to rest in his home state, my colleague Jessica Ma reports.

Military scientists have officially identified the remains of Harry Jerele of west suburban Berkeley, who died of pneumonia at age 26 in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in the Philippines.

Jerele’s niece Rosemarie Dillon, 88, who lives in Batavia, is his oldest surviving relative. She was “shocked” to learn his remains had been identified.

“It’s just an honor for me to be the one to lead this group of his relatives to the burial time,” Dillon said.

Jerele served with the 192nd Tank Battalion, which was deployed to the Philippines before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, precipitating the United States’ entry into World War II. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• The first witness was called in the hush money case against former President Donald Trump. [AP]

• Here’s a look at what the latest round of proposed U.S. aid could mean for Ukraine. [BBC]

• Tesla cut its car prices around the world. [NPR]

• Cher, Mary J. Blige and Ozzy Osbourne are among the latest inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

It’s getting harder for artists currently performing in the storefronts to make a living, my colleague Mike Davis reports.

“I love acting. It is my passion. It is my drive. But it is a struggle,” said William Anthony Sebastian Rose II, who works a 9-to-5 job while also performing in the evening.

New research from the National Endowment for the Arts found the median wage for an actor was $21.88 per hour in 2020. By 2023, that median wage had dropped 6% to $20.50 per hour.

“When COVID hit, it was a seismic shock to the sector,” said Sunil Iyengar, director of the office of research and analytics for the group. “Whether you measure it by economic output by these organizations, performing arts organizations took a major tumble, but then if you also looked at jobs, they were cut very severely.” [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

With the weather warming up, what are your favorite restaurants for outdoor dining, whether it’s a patio or a rooftop?

I’ve gotta go with Moody’s in Edgewater. It’s such a chill spot, the waitstaff are friendly and my husband and I play a game in which we narrate people who are obviously on a first date.

Feel free to email me, and your response might be shared in the newsletter this week.