Hey there! It’s Wednesday, a magical time of the week when I go from being in a bad mood to feeling reborn now that we’re just two days away from the glorious weekend. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Lightfoot vows to keep fighting against powerful forces who ‘want their city back’

Mayor Lori Lightfoot today made several campaign stops a day after formally announcing her reelection bid.

And part of her strategy appears to be trying to rekindle her image as a political outsider, one that helped propel her to office in 2019 after federal agents raided the offices of the City Council’s longest serving member and local power player — Ald. Edward Burke.

“You know what this fight is about. When I got into office, the people who were used to having their way — who were used to dominating our city — they wanted their city back and they’ve been fighting against us every single day,” Lightfoot told the breakfast crowd at Starlight Restaurant in the city’s Ashburn neighborhood.

The mayor also touted economic development initiatives focused on the city’s South and West sides, as well as her administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. As Lightfoot begins campaigning, she faces mounting criticism for suggesting judges should assume defendants are guilty

The ACLU of Illinois and Cook County’s top judge are firing back at Lightfoot for saying judges should deny bail for people charged with violent crimes because “when those charges are brought, these people are guilty.”

Alexandra Block, a senior supervising attorney for the ACLU of Illinois, said it’s “sad to see a highly trained lawyer and former prosecutor so badly mangle the meaning of our Constitution.”

Chief Circuit Court Judge Tim Evans said that 11% of the violent felony cases “disposed” between October 2017 and April 2022 were “dropped upon further investigation” by the state’s attorney.

Another 3.2% were found not guilty at trial, he said.

“This shows that charging an individual does not equate to guilt,” the chief judge said in a statement. [Chicago Sun-Times]

3. Inside the Supreme Court, mistrust and resentment grow after the leak of the draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade

The nation’s high court is “riven with distrust among the law clerks, staff and, most of all, the justices themselves,” reports NPR’s Nina Totenberg on the internal fallout of the leaked draft opinion.

She writes, “The atmosphere behind the scenes is so ugly that, as one source put it, ‘the place sounds like it’s imploding.’ ”

Justice Clarence Thomas has publicly suggested that he no longer trusts his colleagues.

“When you lose that trust, especially in the institution that I’m in, it changes the institution fundamentally,” he told a conservative group. “You begin to look over your shoulder. It’s like kind of an infidelity that you can explain it but you can’t undo it.” [NPR]

Today, an armed man was arrested near the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh after allegedly making threats against Kavanaugh, according to a Supreme Court spokesperson. [NPR]

4. California voters send Democrats a message on crime

About 60% of voters in San Francisco recalled a progressive prosecutor accused of being too lenient on crime. And in Los Angeles, a Republican-turned-Democrat advances to a runoff in the mayoral election after heavily campaigning on fighting crime.

“People are not in a good mood, and they have reason not to be in a good mood,” Garry South, a Los Angeles-based Democratic strategist, told The New York Times. “It’s not just the crime issue. It’s the homelessness. It’s the high price of gasoline.”

Now, Democrats are trying to find a way to navigate the politics of crime that doesn’t split their diverse base of support as Republicans hope to retake control of Congress by focusing on the issue.

“We need to not fall victim to a false choice between public safety and criminal justice,” said U.S. Rep. Patrick Maloney of New York, who oversees the political arm of House Democrats. “We better do both.” [NYT]

5. Chicago’s legal weed biz is creating a boon for private security firms

Heading into a local pot shop, you’ll likely see a security guard near the door watching every move you make.

Marijuana dispensaries are flush with not only a wide assortment of expensive cannabis products, but cash because federal laws prevent dispensaries from accessing traditional banks. That’s partly why Illinois state law requires security be on hand.

And now, more than two years into recreational cannabis sales, some dispensary owners are investing even more into private security

As a result, Illinois is seeing an “explosive rise” in security firms, according to Timothy Sutton, a senior security consultant at Guidepost Solutions who has worked with several dispensaries in the state. [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

• Nineteen candidates have applied to replace now-retired Ald. Michael Scott Jr. on the Chicago City Council. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Chicago Public Schools is setting aside $70 million for a new high school in or near Chinatown. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Here’s a look at how gas prices in Illinois compare with other states. [Chicago Tribune]
• A $100,000 collection of rare sports cards was stolen from a store in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood. [Block Club Chicago]

Oh, and one more thing …

I’m a sucker for stories like this one: A woman got a chair for free on Craigslist and discovered $36,000 hidden inside.

“I knew I couldn’t keep it,” Vicky Umodu told The Washington Post. “I knew I had to give it back.”

So why was the money hidden inside the chair? The man who gave Umodu the chair said it belonged to a deceased uncle who was known to hide cash in his house.

“I thanked her and her son profusely for being good people,” the man told the Post, adding he gave Umodu $2,200 to buy a new refrigerator.

“They did the honest thing,” he said. “Today, that’s a rarity. Not everyone would do that.” [WaPo]

Tell me something good …

I’m thinking of taking a little weekend vacation, and I wanted to know if you had any recommendations for places that aren’t terribly far and perfect for a quick getaway from the city.

Linda Gartz, who helped inspire this week’s question, writes:

“Devil’s Lake in Baraboo is about a three-hour drive and a total world away from flat Chicago. Five-hundred foot high bluffs overlook a shimmering 3-mile wide lake. The bluffs are perfect for hiking with a special date or the family. (My mom even took my 2-year-old brother in a stroller over part of the bluffs! Crazy!) Glacier-carved and also uplifted, billion-year-old fossils can be found in the rock (with the help of a ranger).

“The lake is small, so it’s warmer than Lake Michigan. There is camping in the State Park (reservations required). Star-gazing at night. Lots to do nearby, including the Dells.”

And Alex writes:

“You’ve got to go to Saugatuck, Michigan! It’s only a two hour drive from the city and boasts beaches, boats, and quaint shops and eateries. We love walking through the town on warm summer nights or admiring the leaves on crisp autumn days. Now is a perfect time to visit!”

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