Good afternoon. It’s Friday, and I can’t stop thinking about this horror story. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. As violent crime in Chicago soared, arrests fell to historic lows

Arrests in Chicago have reached their lowest level since at least 2001, with officers making arrests in just 12% of crimes reported last year, according to a Chicago Sun-Times analysis.

“The decline in arrests mirrors a drop in nearly every category of police officers’ activity tracked by the Chicago Police Department,” the newspaper reports.

“The numbers of traffic stops, tickets and investigative stops — in which pedestrians are patted down or searched by officers on the street — all have plummeted. The number of investigative stops dropped by more than half between 2019 and last year, falling from 155,000 citywide to 69,000.”

Among the contributing factors cited by police and experts for the slowdown are the pandemic, dramatic shifts in strategy from the top and increased scrutiny of police. [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. The story of a 10-year-old Ohio girl is at the center of the debate over abortion rights

Let’s start at the beginning. On July 1, The Indianapolis Star reported that a 10-year-old Ohio girl traveled to Indiana for an abortion after she was raped.

Conservative politicians and media outlets quickly questioned the accuracy of the report, some going as far as calling it a lie.

“An abortion story too good to confirm,” wrote The Wall Street Journal editorial board. Fox News host Jesse Watters suggested the story was a “hoax” to support proponents of abortion rights.

But this week, The Columbus Dispatch reported an Ohio man was charged in the rape.

“The episode illustrates the high stakes of both the new legal landscape on abortion and of reporting in an age of deep political polarization and mistrust of major news outlets,” writes NPR’s David Folkenflik and Sarah McCammon. [NPR]

Meanwhile, Indiana’s Republican attorney general has called for an investigation into the doctor who performed the abortion, claiming — without providing any evidence — that she has a history of failing to report abortions as required under Indiana law.

But a document obtained by NPR shows the doctor did notify the state. [NPR]

3. Chicago’s first citywide plan in half a century seeks to address structural inequality

City officials this week unveiled the framework for a 10-year, citywide plan that includes “dozens of goals and objectives designed to address inequities while creating thriving communities,” reports WBEZ’s Natalie Moore.

The plan, called We Will Chicago, comes after two years of gathering input from residents and community groups and hosting about 100 meetings.

“Equity is essential to address Chicago’s structural racism, poverty, depopulation and health disparities. Resiliency is essential for individuals and groups to survive, adapt and rebound in the face of chronic stresses and acute shocks like climate change and pandemics,” according to We Will Chicago.

The exhaustive plan calls for strengthening arts in the city’s public schools, prioritizing resources for small businesses, changing the narrative about South and West side neighborhoods, preventing displacement, promoting growth around transit, protecting freshwater resources and creating open space around industrial zones. [WBEZ]

4. Beginning tomorrow, you can call or text 988 for mental health help

The national suicide prevention hotline is changing its current 10-digit number to the easier to remember 988.

“If you are willing to turn to someone in your moment of crisis, 988 will be there,” said Xavier Becerra, the secretary of health and human services, at a recent press briefing. “988 won’t be a busy signal, and 988 won’t put you on hold. You will get help.”

As NPR reports, “lawmakers and mental health advocates see this as an opportunity to transform the mental health care system and make behavioral health care easily accessible everywhere in the United States.” [NPR]

5. The science behind Garrett’s popcorn

My friends over at Curious City have a new episode out that is making me extremely hungry as I type this out.

The team talks to a food scientist about why Garrett Popcorn’s “Chicago Mix” — a combination of caramel and cheese — is so delicious.

While caramel and cheese popcorn may not seem like it’s got much in the way of health benefits to offer, the sweetness of the caramel and saltiness of the cheese activates primal nutrition-seeking instincts, says food scientist Kantha Shelke with the nutrition research firm Corvus Blue LLC.

“Humans are the only species that loves variety and it is for the fun of it and also for the health of it,” she said. [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

• Mayor Lightfoot pushed out a critic of a new Chinatown high school and appointed an ally to the Chicago Board of Education. [WBEZ]
• Gov. JB Pritzker is in Florida this weekend, further fueling speculation about his plans for 2024. [WBEZ]
• An antidote for burned-out millennials? Meet the climbing gym. [WBEZ]
• The King still draws a crowd at Michigan’s Elvisfest. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

If you’re heading to the Pitchfork Music Festival tomorrow in Chicago’s Union Park, keep an eye out for a photo booth from WBEZ.

My colleagues Manuel Martinez, Andjela Padejski and Cassie Walker Burke will be there and want to tackle some existential questions: What does music mean in these times? And which bands, singers and songwriters are the most representative voices and why?

Stop by to pose for a portrait, tell them you know me and get some WBEZ swag.

Meanwhile, two acts with local ties on WBEZ’s radar that you might want to read more about are the underground rock band Karate, who is getting new life courtesy of the scrappy Chicago reissue label Numero Group, and KAINA, who at 26 is writing songs you’d expect from songwriters twice her age, writes local music writer Candace McDuffie for WBEZ.

Tell me something good …

What was an act of kindness that really lifted your spirits?

Jennifer Loudon writes:

“It is a group of acts of kindness that really warm my heart each year at this time. Every year I ask friends, family and strangers to commit a random act of kindness in memory of my husband, Thor Soderberg, who was a Chicago police officer killed in the line of duty in 2010. I track those that get reported to me here, and it helps me get through the tough season of remembering each year.”

And Kate writes:

“Two years ago I was diagnosed with a rare inoperable brain tumor. I got sick very fast. My neighbors and community, people I didn’t even know, started a GoFundMe to send me to Mayo Clinic.

“They raised over $10,000 for me and hundreds of people dropped off food, gifts, flowers, gift certificates and things for my kids. We were overwhelmed by the kindness of our community. It’s so hard to see the positive especially when you are as sick as I am.

“But I make myself always remember two things. 1) There is someone out there who has it worse than you and 2) A small act of kindness towards someone can change their entire day and outlook. I tell my kids to choose good. Be the better person, be nice to everyone, especially the bullies. You never know what’s happening in someone else’s life and your small act of kindness can truly change their narrative.”

Thank you so much for all of the thoughtful responses this week. I’m sorry I couldn’t share them all, but it was nice reading some really amazing stories this week.