Hey there! It’s Friday, and my weekend is beginning in 15 minutes with a wholesome-sounding tale of revenge called The Northman. What’s not to like about shirtless Vikings working through their family drama? Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Lightfoot’s new curfew gets slammed from all sides at a City Council hearing

But the 10 p.m. citywide curfew for minors easily cleared its first legislative hurdle in a 14-3 vote despite an avalanche of concerns.

Council members condemned the move as “a toothless and desperate headline-grabber that will have no impact on an outbreak of youth violence downtown and in Chicago neighborhoods — and might even make it worse,” reports veteran Sun-Times reporter Fran Spielman.

At the same time, police department officials struggled to justify lowering the curfew from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. for minors under 18 instead of 17.

For example, when asked how often officers write curfew citations, a department official said there has been a huge decline — from 2,453 in 2018 to just 364 citations last year.

“When you talk about having a tool in the tool box — we don’t use this tool … do we? Having a tool and using a tool are two different things,” said Ald. Raymond Lopez, who is running for mayor.

Others pointed to a body of research showing curfews can be ineffective at reducing violence. [Sun-Times]

Meanwhile, experts on gun violence and youth culture say city officials should provide more activities and services for teens at Millennium Park. [WBEZ]

2. Videos emerge in the police shooting of an unarmed 13-year-old boy. But questions linger.

Two videos show the moments leading up to the shooting that so far has more questions than answers.

In one video posted on Instagram, the boy can be seen running from at least five officers through a gas station parking lot, reports Block Club Chicago. The boy collapses on his side after an officer shoots him.

The shooting was also captured in a pod camera video obtained by WGN. In both videos, it’s unclear if the teenager turns around to face officers before he is shot, as Police Superintendent David Brown has publicly said. [Block Club Chicago]

Body cam video from the officers as well as surveillance video have been turned over to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which investigates police shootings.

The agency said it has no plans to publicly release the videos, despite the lingering questions, saying it is prohibited by state law. [Chicago Sun-Times]

3. Lightfoot presses the City Council to approve her casino plan as soon as next week

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s push for fast tracking a $1.74 billion casino plan through the City Council hit a hiccup today when a preliminary vote was postponed. But the mayor is pressing the council to wrap things up as soon as next week, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Ald. Tom Tunney, who is the chairman of a special committee overseeing everything related to the casino, told the newspaper that a committee vote could be delayed again.

“I think we’re going to do our due diligence over the weekend and try to make sure we give honest answers to the questions, whether we agree with them or not,” Tunney said.

If the council approves the casino plan, it then heads to the Illinois Gaming Board. Bally’s Corporation, which is behind the proposal, hopes to open a temporary casino downtown in 2023, with a permanent casino in the River West neighborhood opening in 2026. [Chicago Tribune]

4. A ‘smoking gun’ police report clears the convicted Starved Rock killer, a lawyer says

“More than 60 years after the Starved Rock killings, a lawyer for the man convicted in what became one of the Chicago area’s most notorious murder cases says he has turned up a police report of an overheard conversation on a pay phone that he says proves Chester Weger wasn’t the killer,” reports my colleague Frank Main over at the Chicago Sun-Times.

The lawyer, Andy Hale, says a telephone operator overheard a conversation between two unknown men on March 21, 1960, five days after the bodies of three women were discovered at Starved Rock State Park.

In that conversation, the men describe an automobile trunk in which the killer supposedly stashed his bloody overalls. Hale says that points away from Weger because he didn’t even own a car.

The news comes as authorities are conducting DNA tests on hair, cigarette butts and twine gathered as evidence in the murder. The tests are expected to be completed in late July. [Chicago Sun-Times]

5. The ‘most cherished regular’ at one Chicago bar is a cat named Mel

The cat has been a fixture at Cary’s Lounge in the city’s West Ridge neighborhood since 2017, reports Block Club Chicago.

“He’s our head of security,” said owner Peter Valavanis. “And he’s got one good fang left.”

Mel is a “softie around people, jumping onto stools and into laps for the emotional support needed to down Malört,” Block Club reports.

“He turns his nose up to it. He’s not a fan of Malört, but he is a fan of Malört drinkers,” Valavanis said. “I can’t imagine the bar without him. He’s part of the atmosphere. He’s a part of the room. He’s the fixture.” [Block Club]

Here’s what else is happening

• A deadly mass shooting in downtown Chicago comes as part of the area has logged the most homicides in 17 years and the most shootings since at least 2010. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Chicago Public Schools will restore $24 million in funding amid a heated debate over budget cuts to schools during the pandemic. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• The names Noah and Olivia were among the most popular last year in Illinois. [WBEZ]
• A new documentary chronicles the underground abortion collective of the ’60s and ’70s known as the Janes. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

You don’t need to tell me twice that it’s OK to not have goals and skate by on vibes.

My friends over at Nerdette this week talk about work, self-worth and learning how to be OK with doing just OK with Amil Niazi, who wrote an essay called “How the Pandemic Made Me Lose My Ambition.” [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

This great weather has me itching to read outside. So, what’s a good book to read over the summer?

Yusef writes:

“Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins is an excellent beach read. It wrapped me in and kept me guessing to the end. I got to the last 70 pages and couldn’t stop, despite it being way past my bedtime. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson, one of the best beach reads of all time!”

And Carolyn writes:

“I highly recommend The Guncle by Steven Rowley. I could not put it down! It’s a lovely, poignant but funny story of ‘guncle’ (gay uncle) Patrick taking care of his niece and nephew for the summer in Palm Springs. It’s a story of loss, grief and laugh-out-loud, irreverent events as they navigate their new lives and form a strong, loving bond with each other. It reminded me of my ‘guncle’ and how much his love and support after the death of my father helped me to find joy in life!”

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