Good afternoon! Here’s a look at what happened the last time Chicago hosted the Democratic National Convention. And here’s what else you need to know today.

1. Chicago will host the 2024 Democratic National Convention

Here’s a fun factoid: Chicago holds the record for hosting the most political conventions — 11 Democratic and 14 Republican between 1832 and 2020.

My colleague Lynn Sweet broke the news that President Joe Biden called Gov. JB Pritzker this morning, saying Chicago will host the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

It’s great news for the downtown area that’s still trying to bounce back from the pandemic.

“Chicago’s convention backers highlighted the abundance of downtown area union hotels; the large, centrally located convention venues near hotels; Midway and O’Hare airports; and the restaurants and museums in the city,” Sweet reports.

The convention, taking place Aug. 19-22 next year, could draw between 5,000 and 7,000 delegates and alternates and attract up to 50,000 visitors to the city, Sweet reports.

The decision to host the convention in Chicago also gives Democrats a chance to highlight the importance of Wisconsin, Michigan and other so-called Blue Wall states that play a critical role in presidential elections. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Meanwhile, here’s a look at what else the DNC could mean for the city. [WBEZ]

2. More than half of Americans have dealt with gun violence, survey finds

That’s one of the big takeaways from a national poll released today by KFF, a nonprofit that focuses on health care research.

“The findings give a sense of how gun violence pervades the daily lives of millions in the U.S. and shapes everyday decisions,” NPR reports.

“The majority of respondents said they take at least one precaution to stay safe from the possibility of gun violence. About a third said they avoid crowded venues like music festivals and bars. More than 40% said they had sought out weapons to protect themselves or had tried to learn how to handle a gun or shoot a gun.” [NPR]

The news comes as gun violence is once again in the national spotlight after this week’s deadly mass shooting in Louisville. Authorities say the gunman, a 25-year-old employee at Old National Bank, livestreamed the attack. [AP]

3. Disciplinary charges were filed against the Chicago Police officer who fatally shot 13-year-old Adam Toledo

Officer Eric Stillman allegedly used unnecessary deadly force, failed to follow his training on foot pursuits and was slow to activate his body-worn camera, according to formal disciplinary charges filed with the Chicago Police Board by interim Police Superintendent Eric Carter.

In 2021, Stillman chased 13-year-old Adam Toledo into an alley in Little Village and fired a single shot into the boy’s chest shortly after Toledo dropped a handgun and raised his hands.

“Toledo’s death sparked widespread community outrage that was compounded by the fatal police shooting of 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez just two days later,” writes my colleague Tom Schuba. “The shootings, both captured by police cameras during foot chases, pushed the police department to quickly implement a new policy over such pursuits.”

Now that administrative charges have been filed, hearings are expected to begin next month over whether Stillman should be fired. [Chicago Sun-Times]

4. A decades-old drug may help curb rising STD rates, health officials say

The number of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases has been accelerating in the U.S., according to federal data released today.

Health officials are hoping doxycycline, a cheap antibiotic that has been sold for more than 50 years, can be utilized as a “kind of morning-after pill” for sexually transmitted infections, reports the AP.

A study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine found people who took the pill within 72 hours of unprotected sex were “about 90% less likely to get chlamydia, about 80% less likely to get syphilis, and more than 50% less likely to get gonorrhea compared with people who did not take the pills after sex,” the AP reports.

Health experts attribute the rise in STD rates to reduced testing during the pandemic, a decline in the use of condoms and inadequate sex education. [AP]

5. Watch out for those potholes

Illinois and Indiana are under a “pothole warning” from AAA, which says the number of drivers seeking repairs from pothole damage is up 57% across the nation, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

So far this year, city crews have patched nearly 215,000 potholes in streets and alleys across Chicago, said Erica Schroeder, a spokesperson with the Chicago Department of Transportation. The department filled a total of more than 605,000 potholes last year.

If you hit a pothole in Chicago and damage your vehicle, you can file a claim with the city. But one motorist told the Sun-Times it took two years for the city to reimburse him for 50% of the cost of replacing the tire. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• Right now is a good time to start planning how you’ll get around Chicago during the NASCAR street race this summer. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• ShotSpotter, the company behind a controversial gunshot-detection software used in Chicago, changed its name. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Community organizer Ronnie Mosley, 31, will become the Chicago City Council’s youngest member when he’s sworn in next month. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Basketball star Brittney Griner is writing a memoir about her time being held captive in Russia. [AP]

Oh, and one more thing …

I’m still processing this week’s Succession and may have to watch it a second time.

I’m not going to spoil anything, so don’t worry if you haven’t seen the episode yet.

I just wanted to point out there are power rankings of all the characters that might help if you’re like my family and can’t stop talking about who you think will come up on top in the end.

Vulture has a really funny one that lists a hilarious winner of Sunday’s episode. [Vulture]

The Ringer also has a great power ranking that makes a good argument for who they think is the biggest heavyweight. Sorry, I know that’s vague, but I promised not to spoil anything. [The Ringer]

Tell me something good …

I’ve got the windows open and listening to music, trying to enjoy this great weather while it lasts. And I’d like to know what songs put you in a great mood?

Ricca writes:

“Check out ‘Good Good Morning’ by Zach Berkman — very upbeat.”

And Michelle T. writes:

“My go-to music when I need a mood-booster is hands down Erasure. My sister and I got hooked on them when we were kids from my dad’s extensive album collection. They have so many amazing songs that instantly put me in a good mood when I hear them. ‘Blue Savannah’ and ‘Take Me Back’ are two of my favorites!”

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