Good afternoon! Here’s something that blew my mind this morning: Scientists are beginning to “decode what sperm whales are saying,” The Washington Post reports. Here’s what else you need to know today.

1. Ending cash bail in Illinois shows early signs of success

Early data indicates that defendants released ahead of trial are showing up for hearings and largely are not being charged with new crimes, my colleague Matthew Hendrickson reports.

“I think we’ve come a very long way in the right direction,” Cook County Judge Charles Beach said. “Things are working well.”

Illinois abolished cash bail under the Pretrial Fairness Act, which went into effect six months ago and was among a wave of policing reforms introduced in the aftermath of the police murder of George Floyd.

People who are released have continued to show up for hearings, with an arrest warrant being issued in only about 10% of cases when someone fails to show up.

And 88% of people released have not been charged with a new crime. Of those who did, 4% picked up a case for a crime involving violence. [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. President Joe Biden will arrive in Chicago this afternoon

The president is expected to land in Chicago around 4 p.m. for a fundraiser after campaigning in the battleground state of Wisconsin, my colleague Lynn Sweet reports.

Biden visited Racine today while Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to stop by Milwaukee next Thursday, the same day as a campaign reception in the North Shore.

The trips mark the fourth time both Biden and Harris have campaigned in Wisconsin, part of the so-called Blue Wall that is crucial for Democrats in presidential elections. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Biden’s visit in Chicago is expected to attract antiwar protesters, who have become increasingly vocal on Chicago-area campuses in recent weeks.

Today, The New York Times looks at how the antiwar movement coincides with Chicago hosting the Democratic National Convention — and how officials don’t want to talk about the chaos that erupted during the 1968 convention. [New York Times]

3. Mayor Brandon Johnson pushes state lawmakers to boost funding for Chicago Public Schools amid teacher negotiations

The mayor visited the Illinois State Capitol today to argue Chicago Public Schools is owed more money than it receives from the state.

But that debate is playing out as some state lawmakers are raising questions about the credibility of the Chicago Teachers Union, which played a significant role in getting Johnson elected last year, the Chicago Tribune reports.

“They really push the envelope to the point of breaking and it’s not appreciated in Springfield,” a former education lobbyist told the Tribune.

A Democratic lawmaker who asked to remain anonymous said the CTU “clearly” lacks credibility, but “they don’t need it because they use intimidation.” [Chicago Tribune]

4. Will the Chicago Bears face a courtroom battle over a new stadium?

Friends of the Parks is “prepared to fight for the lakefront” but not ready to say if that will mean mounting a legal challenge to prevent the Bears from building a domed stadium, my colleague Fran Spielman reports.

“We are prepared to fight for the lakefront. We are prepared to stand on behalf of the doctrines, the principles that say our lakefront should be forever open, clear and free for public use. … [But] this is not a fully-fleshed-out proposal,” said Gin Kilgore, acting executive director of the group.

Friends of the Parks also blocked movie mogul George Lucas from building his interactive museum on Soldier Field’s south parking lot, and the domed stadium could ultimately end up in court.

But filing another lawsuit is “not the first thing you want to do,” Kilgore said. [Chicago Sun-Times]

5. Steve Albini, a legendary pioneer of indie rock, died today

Albini — a musician and producer who worked with Nirvana, the Pixies, Jesus Lizard, PJ Harvey and countless other icons of the indie rock underground — died today at 61 after a heart attack, my colleague Miriam Di Nunzio reports.

“For more than three decades, Albini made his musical magic happen at his Electrical Audio on Belmont Avenue, recording thousands of artists from across the city and across the globe,” Di Nunzio writes.

In a 2021 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Albini was asked if he considered himself successful.

“To the extent that I could care about that, I would say yes,” he said. “I’ve lived my whole life without having goals, and I think that’s very valuable, because then I never am in a state of anxiety or dissatisfaction. I never feel I haven’t achieved something. I never feel there is something yet to be accomplished. I feel like goals are quite counterproductive.” [Chicago Sun-Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• The U.S. paused shipments of bombs to Israel. [BBC]

• Ukraine said it foiled an assassination plot on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. [AP]

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said a worm ate part of his brain. [New York Times]

• Earth and Venus used to be “twin planets” before one got super gassy. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

Petting rabbits is reportedly a popular idea for first dates. I personally wouldn’t know because 99% of my first dates took place at a bar. (The 1% is the time I took my now-husband to the Garfield Park Conservatory.)

But a North Side business called Cuddle Bunny has become a “hot spot for first dates” since it opened in 2020, Block Club Chicago reports.

“It’s funny because sometimes we’ll have people come in on a Friday, and then they’ll be back the next Friday but with somebody else,” Cuddle Buddy owner Barbara Burdick said.

Cuddle Bunny allows people to book “hour-long rabbit encounter sessions, where small groups or individuals rotate between three spacious pens with one or two rabbits each,” Block Club reports.

“It also offers bunny yoga as a special once-a-month event.” [Block Club Chicago]

Tell me something good …

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching. What’s your favorite memory with a maternal figure in your life?

Kari writes:

“About 20 years ago when I lived in Miami, my mom and little sister were down for some fun in the sun. We were all sitting in the backyard having a few cocktails. We looked up and saw ‘turkey vultures’ circling above. (Yes, they are as creepy as they sound!)

“My mother was almost completely blind so we were trying to focus on them … just as she spotted the vultures, my dog, Sasha, jumped into her lap! She let out a scream and to say the least, the almost-wet-your-pants laughter went on for at least an hour. All who were present will crack up when remembering yet another mom story!!”

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