Good afternoon! Happy birthday to my husband, Joshua. And thanks for putting up with my insanity, like that one time I almost convinced you the original St. Louis Arch was made out of wood before it fell down. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. What protesters likely can’t bring to the Democratic National Convention

The City Council next week is expected to sign off on a security plan around the United Center and McCormick Place during this summer’s convention, my colleague Mitchell Armentrout reports.

Protesters, residents and other onlookers would be prohibited from bringing laptops, large bags, scooters, animals (except for service dogs), drones and other items into certain areas near the convention.

The Chicago Police Department’s counter-terrorism chief suggested the restrictions would only be enforced in a “buffer zone” around barbed-wire fencing closest to the venues, where protests are expected to be most active.

“So if something goes bad, and those protests are pushing up against the fence, we don’t want anybody to get hurt and get crushed against the fence,” Chief Duane DeVries said.

“Walking a dog in the neighborhood, you’re not gonna be right against that fencing. Yes, a dog wouldn’t be allowed in that area. But in the neighborhoods, the bike lanes, the scooters, backpacks, people going to work — they will be able to carry all that.” [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. The killing of Dexter Reed puts more scrutiny on traffic stops

Civil rights advocates and community leaders are calling for the Chicago Police Department to end the use of “pretextual” traffic stops, in which officers use minor offenses, such as a broken headlight, as a pretext to investigate individuals for more serious crimes, my colleague Jessica Alvarado Gamez reports.

“There’s nothing that I could see, at least from the video, that provided justification for the stop, and the reason that was given, seat belt, was clearly pretextual,” said Craig Futterman, a clinical professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the city agency tasked with investigating police shootings, said Reed shot an officer during a traffic stop in the Humboldt Park neighborhood last month. In return, the other cops fired nearly 100 rounds in 41 seconds.

COPA investigators are examining whether the use of force by officers was justified. [WBEZ]

3. A potential winner in the new White Sox stadium? An Iraqi billionaire.

Nadhmi Shakir Auchi, an Iraqi billionaire who was once barred from entering the United States, owns the vacant South Loop site being eyed by the White Sox for a new stadium.

For two decades, Auchi has tried developing the 62-acre location, my colleagues Tim Novak and Frank Main report.

And each time, he’s run into political and legal roadblocks. Some involved his partners. Others centered on his past — which includes two criminal convictions, one in France, another in Iraq.

Auchi also served two years in prison after he and 76 others — including Saddam Hussein, at the time a young member of Iraq’s Ba’ath Party — were convicted of attempting to assassinate Iraq’s prime minister in 1959. [Chicago Sun-Times]

4. The art of people watching at EXPO Chicago

Thrift-meets-couture. Fairies. Bold patterns.

Local artists this week are putting on a runway show of sorts at EXPO Chicago, the largest art fair in the Midwest, my colleagues Sofie Hernandez-Simeonidis and Brittany Sowacke report.

“I was actually really inspired by a lot of stylists on Instagram and Pinterest,” said China Wehr, an artist who works at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

“I feel especially here at EXPO, just seeing everybody in their various styles and aesthetics, it is the perfect place whether you’re into the paintings or if you’re into fashion, you can find inspo anywhere.” [WBEZ]

EXPO runs through Sunday at Navy Pier. Here’s a guide to navigating the massive event. And here are seven up-and-coming artists to collect.

5. A Chicago-area fourth grader is going the distance, he’s going for speed — on a go-kart

Sorry, it’s impossible for me to not think of “The Distance” by Cake when reading this story about Pierce Joy, a 10-year-old who was crowned the best junior go-kart racer in Illinois by K1 Speed.

Pierce is now headed to this Sunday’s national championship in Ontario, Calif., my colleague Lauren Frost reports.

“If I get in the top three in California, my celebration plan is I’m going to make my dad get me a Lego set,” he said.

Asked if he would uphold his end of the bargain, his father, Branden Joy, agreed.

“I think we can do that,” he laughed. [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

• Iran is expected to launch a major attack on Israel as soon as today, CBS News reports, citing two U.S. officials. [CBS News]

• The Biden administration today canceled another $7.4 billion in student loans. [CNN]

• Six in 10 Catholics in the U.S. are in favor of abortion rights, according to a Pew Research report. [NPR]

• Good Times, the pioneering TV show set in Cabrini-Green, turns 50. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

It’s amazing how it can appear almost impossible to watch sports at home with all the different TV streamers. Is the big game on Max or Amazon?

My colleague Jeff Agrest looks at streaming services now that baseball season is underway.

“The Cubs and White Sox return to Apple TV+ this month, but fans might not get the bang for their buck,” he reports.

Agrest ranked the top five streaming sports add-ons based on a set of criteria that includes which provide the most live sports at the best price. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Tell me something good …

What’s your go-to TV show, movie or book you hit up when you’re feeling nostalgic?

Louise S. writes:

“For me it’s The West Wing. I’ve watched the episodes probably a dozen times, and it’s my comfort zone — a remembrance of a time when politics was more about issues and policy and less about personality buoyed by the dominance of social media and the tribalism that’s arisen.”

And Jennifer S. writes:

“I have watched the entire M*A*S*H series several times, on my own and with my boys. It’s my go-to while I’m grading papers or just want mindless relaxation after a hard day. It’s all about good people dealing with impossible situations they have no power over in the best way they know how. BONUS — my eldest had to portray drunks in two high school theater productions and though he’d had no experience with overindulging at that point, he told everyone that he’d taken his inspiration from Hawkeye! LOL!”

Thanks for all the emails this week. It was nice hearing from y’all.

Before I go, WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times have a “best of Chicago” contest that is coming to an end with “Chicago dog” up against “Lake Views/Beach.”