Good afternoon! I’m on Day 2 of Nephew Watch. I think we’ve passed the eye of the hurricane of chaos after the boys went on a “ding-dong ditch” spree. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. How Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas grew into rivals for mayor of Chicago

You’ve heard where Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson stand on key issues affecting the city, from public safety to education.

But who are the two men hoping to become the next mayor of Chicago?

Today, WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times dive deep into the backgrounds of both candidates, offering a window into what life lessons they’ve learned and what motivates them.

Johnson went from a church youth group leader to a teacher on a path “to do better for others.”

While Vallas went from playing with “imaginary friends” to tackling “big, nearly impossible tasks.” [Chicago Sun-Times]

Meanwhile on the campaign trail, Arne Duncan, the former U.S. secretary of education who considered running for mayor, endorsed Vallas in an op-ed for the Chicago Tribune. [Chicago Tribune]

And Sen. Bernie Sanders will be in town this weekend for an election rally to help Johnson. [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. Illinois Dems seek to counter ‘extremist conservatives’ in school board races

In an unprecedented move, the Illinois Democratic Party is pumping about $300,000 into school and library board elections throughout the state, hoping to combat what it calls “extremist conservatives,” reports my colleague Susie An.

Once a sleepy affair, these elections have increasingly become a battleground in the nation’s culture wars — from COVID-19 protocols to LGBTQ+ literature.

The state’s Democratic Party is “committed to supporting credible candidates who will oppose efforts to ban books, revise history and limit reasonable sex education,” party chair and state Rep. Lisa Hernandez said in a statement. “We can’t afford to sit back while kids and families are at risk.” [WBEZ]

3. Black employees at the Illinois Tollway are outraged over a rope hung in a locker room

Black employees of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority last August found a bottle dangling from a rope hanging from the ceiling in a locker room. And they said it seemed to have been fashioned to resemble a noose, reports my colleague Robert Herguth.

They complained, and officials interviewed a white co-worker, who told them it was a “joke” having nothing to do with race.

According to records, the white co-worker was trying to recreate a scene from The Silence of the Lambs, when the serial killer known as Buffalo Bill lowers a basket into a pit where a woman is being held captive. A picture of Buffalo Bill was posted above the bottle and rope.

“The situation exposed tensions at an agency where Black employees say racial incidents — including an instance a decade or so ago in which someone put a noose in a Black worker’s locker — are too common and often downplayed or ignored by tollway officials,” Herguth reports. [Chicago Sun-Times]

4. Most transgender adults said transitioning improved their lives, a large survey found

As Republicans increasingly challenge the existence of transgender Americans, a wide-ranging survey from The Washington Post and KFF helps build on a growing body of research on what it means to be trans.

The poll included more than 500 people who identify as trans, making it the largest nongovernmental survey of transgender adults.

Among the poll’s biggest findings: 78% of trans adults said transitioning made them more satisfied with their lives. And 66% said they knew they were trans when they were younger than 18.

But more than 6 in 10 said they “sometimes” or “frequently” feel discriminated against. And about half said they were asked unnecessary or invasive questions at work. [Washington Post]

5. The Park District won’t say who decided to move the Taste of Chicago

Apparently trying to find out who wanted to move the Taste of Chicago is top secret information.

Block Club Chicago today reports it made a public records request for emails from Park District officials that contained the words “Taste of Chicago” and “Grant Park.”

But nearly all the 121 pages of emails it received were redacted. The Park District even blacked out the contents of messages discussing the news organization’s own records request.

“The redactions come as alderpeople, park advocates and neighbors have demanded to know how the city’s deal to host NASCAR came about and who was aware it could force the relocation of the Taste of Chicago, disrupt annual softball leagues and potentially cause the Shedd Aquarium to lose millions of dollars in revenue,” Block Club reports. [Block Club Chicago]

Here’s what else is happening

• The U.S. launched airstrikes in Syria after a suspected Iranian drone killed an American contractor. [NPR]
• A former top aide to Michael Madigan offered an inside look into how the former Illinois House speaker wielded power. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Hyundai and Kia recalled 571,000 vehicles due to a fire risk. [NPR]
• The new John Wick movie features breathtaking action but is super long, writes Sun-Times movie critic Richard Roeper. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Oh, and one more thing …

Some of you probably know I’m inked up. I have tattoos all over my left arm. (Bad boi alert: It’s a bunch of panels from a Japanese version of Batman.)

So the other night my husband sent me an article from The Atlantic about how the body responds to getting a tattoo.

It turns out getting heavily tattooed can be a good thing?

An anthropologist from the University of Alabama has been studying heavily inked people from all over the world. And he found that “frequent tattooing gives the immune system a regular, low-intensity workout — and keeps certain bits of our defensive armamentarium more fit,” The Atlantic reports.

Guess I’m getting my other arm done. [The Atlantic]

Tell me something good …

What hobbies make you happy and/or help relieve stress?

Susanne Frey writes:

“My favorite hobby is working with my dear friend on 1:12 scale miniatures. We have made two dollhouses (fully furnished) for display at a local hospital system where we volunteer. The dollhouses are displayed in large cases where patients, families, friends and staff can enjoy them.

“We are always amazed by how adults and children get caught up in the fantasy of a miniature world. We love doing the detailed, small-scale work, but the best part is sharing our work with so many others. It’s a highly specific hobby that some people do not understand, but we wouldn’t give it up for anything!”

Thanks for all the responses this week. I’m sorry I couldn’t share them all, but it was nice hearing from y’all.