Hey there! It’s finally Friday! Wow, this week felt longer than a school talent show. Here’s what you need to know today.

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1. The Obamas will be in town next week for ceremonial groundbreaking of presidential center

Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will return to Chicago on Tuesday to officially break ground on the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. JB Pritzker will also attend the ceremonial event, which will be livestreamed at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Obama.org.

“Michelle and I could not be more excited to break ground on the Obama Presidential Center in the community that we love,” the former president said in a video posted online this morning. “With your help, we can make this center a catalyst for economic opportunity, a new world-class destination on the South Side and a platform for young people to drive change.” [Chicago Tribune]

Next week will be a big one for Chicago. The groundbreaking comes a day before President Joe Biden will travel to the city to tout vaccine mandates as his administration tries to curb the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.

2. House passes largely symbolic abortion rights bill

The Democrat-controlled House today approved legislation that would protect abortion rights as Republicans in several states enact new restrictions on the procedure.

The bill, called the Women’s Health Protection Act, seeks to codify the Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision that established a constitutional right to abortions. But it faces long odds in the Senate, where 10 Republicans and all Democrats would need to back the bill in order to meet the 60-vote threshold.

The debate over abortions has intensified after Texas earlier this month enacted a law that allows private citizens to enforce a ban on most procedures. And the Supreme Court, now with a solid conservative majority, is expected to hear a case in December in which Mississippi is seeking to overturn Roe v. Wade. [NPR]

3. CDC chief recommends booster shots for people with risky jobs

In a highly unusual move, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overruled an advisory panel today by recommending booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to people with jobs that put them at risk of catching COVID-19.

The panel yesterday voted against such a move, but CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that’s inconsistent with the Food and Drug Administration, which authorized boosters for teachers, health care workers and others who face an increased risk while doing their jobs.

The panel and Walenksy did agree to recommend boosters to millions of Americans who are 65 and older, nursing home residents and people between the ages of 50 and 64 who have risky underlying health problems. [AP]

4. After six months and almost $6 million, GOP-led review confirms Biden won Arizona

The widely discredited claim of large-scale voting fraud in last year’s presidential election got dinged again today.

A Republican-commissioned review of nearly 2.1 million ballots cast in Arizona’s largest county found that Biden received more votes than former President Donald Trump, according to a draft copy obtained by NPR member station KJZZ.

“Was there massive fraud or anything? It doesn’t look like it,” said Randy Pullen, a spokesman for the election review who confirmed the validity of the draft.

Trump and his allies have pointed to the Arizona audit as evidence of their baseless claims of election rigging. [NPR]

5. Two hosts of The View tested positive for COVID-19 minutes before an interview with the vice president

Co-hosts Ana Navarro and Sunny Hostin were abruptly pulled from the set of ABC’s The View today on live television after testing positive for COVID-19, just minutes ahead of an in-person interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.

A stunned Joy Behar, one of the remaining hosts in the studio, announced after an impromptu commercial break that Navarro and Hostin had contracted breakthrough infections even though they were fully vaccinated. Harris was taken to another room for a last-minute remote interview.

As The Associated Press reports, “The moment underscored the ever-present dangers of COVID-19 and a sobering reminder of the virus’ reach.” [AP]

Here’s what else is happening

• R. Kelly’s fate now rests with a jury. [AP]
• A former ABC executive accused Chris Cuomo of harassment. [AP]
• The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection subpoenaed four former Trump administration officials. [NPR]
• China today declared all cryptocurrency transactions illegal. [AP]

Oh, and one more thing …

Ah, the weekend, my favorite time to cancel plans at the last minute and cosplay as a hermit. Luckily WBEZ has some good podcasts to listen to while I try to do as little as possible.

Art of Power talks to award-winning actor, writer and hip-hop artist Common, who is just a Tony award away from a rare EGOT. [WBEZ]

Then this week’s Nerdette is all about TV. Host Greta Johnsen unpacks the Emmys and talks to Atlantic writer Hannah Giorgis, whose recent cover story, “The Unwritten Rules of Black TV,” takes a decades-long view of the power imbalances behind iconic shows about Black Americans. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

We’re officially in fall, and I’d like to know: What’s your favorite fall food?

Erica Krutsch writes:

“My favorite fall food is any type of braised meat. What’s not to love about meat cooked in flavorful alcohol until it’s fall-off-the-bone tender?? Short ribs braised in red wine with pureed parsnips or chicken thighs in white wine and lemon with capers and sauteed swiss chard. Gotta go. Made myself drool.”

And Becky writes:

“Sweet Tango apples dipped in homemade caramel sauce … A caramel apple without breaking your teeth.”

Thanks for all the responses this week. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to everyone, but it was nice hearing from y’all!

Feel free to email me at therundown@wbez.org or tweet me at @whuntah.

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