Hey there! It’s Thursday, and if you pet a dog for an hour, does that translate to a week or month in dog years? Like, can you imagine getting a massage for a week straight? Anyway, here’s what you need to know today.

(By the way, if you’d like this emailed to your inbox, you can sign up here.)

1. Criminal investigation launched into sexual abuse of lifeguards at Chicago Park District

The office of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has opened an investigation into the Chicago Park District’s handling of allegations of widespread sexual violence targeting lifeguards at the city’s public beaches and pools, according to documents obtained by WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos.

In a letter to park district officials nearly a month ago, Foxx informed them that prosecutors had begun looking into allegations of “certain criminal conduct, including but not limited to, past and present sexual assault and harassment, obstruction, witness tampering, concealment of criminal conduct and official misconduct of Park District employees and members of the Board.”

The letter from Foxx was sent on Aug. 19 — the same day the park district’s deputy inspector general, Nathan Kipp, publicly accused top park district officials of attempting to “impede and obstruct” a wide-ranging, long-running internal investigation into parks supervisors preying on young female lifeguards, including minors. [WBEZ]

2. Chicago Public Schools reports 245 COVID-19 cases and more than 5,400 possible exposures

Within the first two weeks of the new academic year, at least 245 infections and more than 5,400 potential exposures have been identified at Chicago’s public schools, the district announced today.

But the accuracy of Chicago Public Schools’ numbers has increasingly been called into question by the Chicago Teachers Union and parents, who say they have been notified about possible outbreaks at schools that are not listed in the district’s tracking system. [Chicago Tribune]

Last week, CPS officials privately told the union that a significantly higher number of students and staff members may have been exposed compared to figures publicly released by the district, according to a source close to the union.

Adding to the sense of confusion and uncertainty is the district’s recent decision to further delay widespread testing until the end of this month. And only 3.3% of students and less than 20% of staff have signed up for voluntary tests, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. [ST]

3. Bars in the Los Angeles area will soon have to check proof of vaccination

L.A. County officials are expected to announce this week that proof of vaccination will be required for bars, wineries, breweries, nightclubs and lounges, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The newspaper reports the mandate “will require patrons and employees to have at least one vaccine dose by Oct. 7 and be fully vaccinated by Nov. 4.” [LA Times]

The news comes just days after California voters overwhelmingly rejected a recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom, an election that partly amounted to a referendum on vaccine mandates embraced by the governor and opposed by conservatives. [Politico]

Vaccine mandates for bars, restaurants, gyms and other businesses have also been adopted in New York City and San Francisco. But Chicago officials are currently allowing businesses to make their own decisions. Here’s a list of local bars and restaurants that want you to show your vax card. [Eater]

4. Only six members of the Chicago City Council refused to take a pay raise

A vast majority of the 50 members of the City Council decided to take a 5.5% pay increase in 2022 that “will push the highest paid among them to a salary over $130,000,” reports the Chicago Tribune.

The six council members who declined raises were George Cardenas,12th Ward; Raymond Lopez, 15th Ward; Silvana Tabares, 23rd Ward; Felix Cardona, 31st Ward; Gilbert Villegas, 36th Ward; and Matt Martin, 47th Ward.

“In the last year, in the height of the pandemic, to take a raise just doesn’t make any sense,” Lopez said. “I think people all over Chicago are going to be upset seeing aldermen take raises when they’re having such a hard time themselves. The optics just aren’t good, especially as many aldermen have had to close their offices and go to Zoom meetings. You’re getting paid more for doing less?” [Chicago Tribune]

5. Scientists want to get to the bottom of what happened to the Lost Colony

A group of archaeologists want to solve one of the greatest mysteries in the U.S.: the disappearance of a colony of 117 people that was founded in North Carolina in 1587 by Sir Walter Raleigh.

Cue the music!

The group, called the First Colony Foundation, is teaming up with the National Park Service to begin digging for clues this week at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site.

“This dig includes new ground that’s never been tested archaeologically,” Jami Lanier, a cultural resource manager and historian with the National Park Service, said in a statement. “So, it’s very exciting to see what may be found.” [NPR]

Here’s what else is happening

• A top UN official is sounding the alarm over artificial intelligence, because the world needs another existential threat right now. [NPR]
• The first civilian crew launched into space played … Kings of Leon? [NPR]
• NASA is expected to show off its status as the greatest Peeping Tom in space. [NPR]
• Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings will split hosting Jeopardy! through the end of the year. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

I’ll be taking a much-needed break tomorrow and Monday, but my colleague Libby Berry will be taking over the newsletter while I’m out. Please be nice to her. (They know who they are.) She’s a wonderful person who is hard not to like.

In the meantime, thank you so much for reading this newsletter for what feels like a decade. I will miss y’all while I’m gone.

My plans? I’m visiting my in-laws. The first time I met my mother-in-law, I dropped a hamburger on my lap. So the bar is pretty low for me.

Tell me something good …

Fall is quickly approaching, with its Halloween costumes, pumpkin spice lattes and a slate of new TV shows. So I’d like to know: What do you enjoy the most about fall?

Bruce Spitzer writes:

“College football! From the Big Ten to the Battle for the Little Brass Bell (North Central College v. Wheaton College), there is nothing like a collegiate campus and stadium on a sunny fall Saturday! #GoHawkeyes #GoCowboys #GoIrish #GoCardinals”

Feel free to email me at therundown@wbez.org.

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