Hey there, it’s Thursday. Though, what is time at this point? I had a dream that I woke up five minutes before I actually did, so when I did wake up, I thought I was running late. Anyway, here’s what you need to know today.

1. Republicans point to Chicago in the debate over gun control. Experts say the facts don’t back up their arguments.

As the deadly mass shooting at a Texas elementary school jumpstarts an all too familiar debate over guns, Republicans are citing Chicago’s violence in arguing that crackdowns on firearms are ineffective.

But nearly 60% of guns recovered in Chicago came from out-of-state dealers, according to a 2017 report from the city, Chicago Police Department and the University of Chicago Crime Lab.

“Not surprisingly, it is the very states with the least restrictive gun laws that are the sources of the guns coming into Chicago and being used to commit crimes,” the report concluded. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Researchers also point to federal data showing more people have died from guns in Texas than Illinois when suicide and accidental shootings are included.

“The common trope is that places like Baltimore or Detroit or Chicago are the reasons we have so many gun deaths in this country,” said Cassandra Crifasi, a researcher and an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. “And yes, those places … have unacceptable rates of gun homicides. But the places with the highest rates of gun deaths are not Maryland, Michigan and Illinois. They are Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, Missouri and Alabama. The places with the weaker gun laws have higher rates of death.” [Chicago Tribune]

2. In the Chicago area and across the nation, parents and teachers agonize over the safety of schoolchildren

“I got the CNN notification about five minutes before students were dismissed,” said fifth-grade teacher Rebecca Gamboa at Madison Elementary in west suburban Lombard. “So, in that crazy time when everyone’s packing up, I saw, ‘Elementary school shooting.’ And immediately I was like, ‘Again?’ ”

Gamboa says a student the next day asked, “Would that happen here?” [WBEZ]

Similar conversations are playing out across the nation as reports uncover more information about the events surrounding the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and raise questions about the police response.

A video verified by The Washington Post shows parents, growing frustrated with how authorities were handling the situation, trying to enter the school as the gunman was inside.

“These cops are right here. Bro, there’s a [expletive] shooting at the school and these [expletive] cops are telling everybody to leave, dude, while everybody’s here trying to pick up their [expletive] kids,” the man who recorded the video says at one point. [Washington Post]

3. A Chicago police officer shot an unarmed 13-year-old boy in the back, according to a federal lawsuit

It’s been more than a week since the boy was shot as he ran from police officers after jumping out of a car. And city officials so far have released very little information about the police shooting.

But a federal lawsuit filed today on behalf of the boy’s mother alleges the teen was shot in the back while his hands were up. That contradicts statements from Police Superintendent David Brown, who said the teen “turned toward officers” before he was shot.

The boy, referred to only by his initials in the lawsuit, suffered injuries to the spinal cord and internal wounds that have left the boy “permanently and catastrophically” injured, the lawsuit states.

“CPD’s shooting was wholly unjustified as A.G. was running away from the shooter, he was unarmed, and he posed no threat of harm to the officer who shot him or anyone in the vicinity,” according to the lawsuit. “Multiple witnesses at the scene reported that A.G. was complying with the officers’ directive for him to put his hands up — and indeed his hands were up — when John Doe Officer shot him.” [Chicago Sun-Times]

4. One of Illinois’ largest school districts is under investigation after police issued tickets to students

Township High School District 211, located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, is under investigation for potential civil rights violations when police issued tickets to students accused of minor misbehavior, reports the Chicago Tribune.

News of the investigation, conducted by the Illinois attorney general’s office, comes after the Tribune and ProPublica reported that thousands of students each year are ticketed at schools by police for minor things like littering, vaping and using offensive words.

The news organizations also found racial disparities in the tickets issued at District 211 and other schools.

“This is an issue that we are quite concerned about,” said Amy Meek, chief of the Civil Rights Bureau in the Illinois attorney general’s office. [Chicago Tribune]

5. A final sendoff for Monty, the endangered piping plover who heroically helped take down an EDM festival

Around 100 birdwatchers and fans of Monty the piping plover gathered this week to remember the little guy, who died earlier this month at Chicago’s Montrose Beach.

“I’m glad that Monty was not alone when he passed,” said Daniela Herrera, a 27-year-old volunteer who was on duty when Monty died. “I hope he felt my love in that moment and felt the love from all of Chicago as well.”

Birdwatchers say they fear that missing Rose, a female piping plover who has nested at the beach for the past three years, may also be dead.

Monty and Rose made waves when they chose Montrose Beach as their summer home in 2019, becoming the first pair to nest in the city in decades.

The historic achievement torpedoed a planned music festival on the beach that birdwatchers said would threaten the endangered birds. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• The Palestinian Authority says an investigation proves Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was deliberately killed by Israeli forces. [AP]
• Former President Donald Trump must answer questions under oath in New York state’s civil investigation into his business practices after losing an appeal. [AP]
• The Jif peanut butter recall now affects at least 69 other products. [NPR]
• The author of an essay titled “How to Murder Your Husband” was found guilty of murdering her husband. [AP]

Oh, and one more thing …

Chicago’s air quality is among the worst in the U.S., and there are several local hotspots for particulate matter 2.5 — the tiny particles that can cause significant health problems.

WBEZ and other local newsrooms are partnering up to gain a better understanding of how air pollution is affecting the Chicago area. And we need your help.

We want to hear about how poor air quality affects you and your family’s health. We’re also looking for volunteers who would be interested in having air quality sensors installed on their property this summer, to better understand air pollution in Chicago. If you’re interested, you can fill out a form in the link. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

What are some of your favorite restaurants?

Michel Overstreet writes:

“My family and I stumbled into Quartino in River North while on vacation more than 10 years ago and loved it so much, it became a must-go-to any time I was in Chicago.

“Then I had the opportunity to move to Chicago in 2018. I have found many great restaurants during my time here but Quartino is still in my top 5. Italian cuisine served tapas style — small shareable dishes and all great.”

Katherine writes:

“Just outside of Chicago in Des Plaines is Jibarito Time, where you’ll find the best Puerto Rican plantain sandwiches. Try the lechon (roasted pork) jibarito with a side of maduros and homemade horchata.”

And Lisa writes:

“Oh, how I love to eat in Chicago!! Del Seoul on N. Clark for Banh Mi, Korean wings and Korean-centered tacos. Up the street on Broadway, Crisp, for more Korean style chicken. Come out south to Roux Diner on 55th for N’awlins breakfast and lunch.

“Go to the not-yet-gentrified (AKA authentic) blocks on 18th Street to Carnitas Uruapan and 5 Rabinitos for real Mexican. Lao Peng You on Chicago Avenue for house made noodles. And Ca Phe Da (18th Street again further east) for Vietnamese coffee with delicious egg custard.”

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