Good afternoon. I’m pouring one out for Harry Belafonte. Like a lot of ’90s kids, I discovered the legendary singer and activist thanks to Beetlejuice. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Kim Foxx will not seek a third term as Cook County’s top prosecutor

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced today she will not run for reelection, capping a career aimed at holding police officers more accountable and reforming an office historically known for wrongful convictions.

“She had to fight that culture and all the lawyers on her staff who had defended so long the practices that led to wrongful convictions and mass incarceration. She took that on in good faith, and made some good strides,” attorney and activist Flint Taylor told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Elected twice by wide margins, Foxx was seen as a breath of fresh air by her supporters who favored a broader approach to reducing crime by focusing on its root causes.

But critics, like Mayor Lori Lightfoot and police, say Foxx’s policies contributed to a rise in violent crime. And her handling of Jussie Smollett’s hate crime hoax led to a wave of criticism that ultimately resulted in a special prosecutor reviewing the case.

Still, Foxx handily won reelection despite the uproar over Smollett. [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson moves quickly to find an interim police superintendent

The incoming mayor has about three weeks to find someone to lead the Chicago Police Department as he searches for a permanent superintendent.

That’s because acting Police Superintendent Eric Carter announced this month he will be stepping down May 15, the same day Johnson and the new City Council are sworn in.

Among those being considered to replace Carter are three newly departed members of the Police Department’s leadership team, report my colleagues Fran Spielman and Tom Schuba.

They are former 1st Deputy Superintendent Anthony Riccio, former Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan and former Chief of Counterterrorism Ernest Cato.

Among the long-shot possibilities is former Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who was fired by Mayor Lori Lightfoot after he was found asleep behind the wheel of a running police SUV after a night of drinking in 2019.

“I don’t care where I go in this city, this city has certainly supported me and shown me a lot of love. So I don’t think there’s many people out there that are really concerned with that. I’ll put it like that,” Eddie Johnson told the Chicago Sun-Times on Monday. [Chicago Sun-Times]

3. Trump and MAGA extremists threaten the rights of Americans, Biden says in reelection kick off

In a highly produced video released today, President Joe Biden announced he will seek a second term, setting up a potential rematch with former President Donald Trump.

“When I ran for president four years ago, I said we are in a battle for the soul of America. And we still are. The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer,” Biden said in the 3-minute video.

At 80, Biden is the oldest person to serve as president. He has delivered wins to the Democratic Party through an infrastructure bill and moves to combat climate change.

But his exit of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has been criticized as hasty and chaotic. And he faces a showdown with House Republicans over raising the nation’s debt ceiling. [NPR]

Meanwhile, House Republicans hope their debt limit bill, which could go up for a vote as soon as tomorrow, will bring Biden to the negotiating table. [NPR]

4. Murals of celebrated musicians Frankie Knuckles and Juice WRLD were painted over

Several murals in the West Loop were recently painted over, including those memorializing rapper Juice WRLD and Frankie Knuckles, the creator of House music, reports Block Club Chicago.

It’s unclear who is responsible for completely covering up the murals, but it appeared intentional, said Levar Hoard, who helped bring more than 250 murals to the West Loop.

Hoard told Block Club he has contacted attorneys for the artist, believing they should be compensated.

“Under the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, courts can impose statutory damages of up to $150,000 for artists’ work that’s of ‘recognized stature’ if a property owner destroys it,” Block Club reports.

The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation said their graffiti-removal crews were not responsible. [Block Club Chicago]

5. Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon and a shift away from the ‘excesses of Trump-era coverage’

The firings of Tucker Carlson at Fox News and Don Lemon at CNN may represent “at least a temporary pulling back from the excesses of the media coverage that the Trump election, presidency and post-presidency spawned,” writes New York Times reporter Jim Rutenberg.

Both TV personalities generated news about themselves while also giving their audiences something to be outraged about, Rutenberg writes.

“On a lot of the mainstream channels, there was a race to be first to condemn Trump to celebrate his problems,” said Stephen F. Hayes, a founder of the conservative site The Dispatch. “And on Fox, in prime time especially, there was this over-the-top effort to defend him and amplify his lies.’’ [New York Times]

Meanwhile, The Washington Post looks back at a pivotal moment in Carlson’s career — when he got into a heated fight with Jon Stewart that led to Carlson’s firing from CNN. [Washington Post]

Here’s what else is happening

• Illinois colleges and cannabis growers are partnering on classes to meet the demand for educated pot workers. [WBEZ]
• A campaign consultant for Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson lost his own race by just one vote. [WBEZ]
• The union boss for letter carriers in Chicago says the U.S. Postal Service hasn’t done enough to address robberies of master keys. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Chance the Rapper will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his seminal mixtape Acid Rap with a series of special events. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Oh, and one more thing …

You might want to read this before you mow your lawn.

More and more people are letting their grass grow out to help support bees, butterflies and other pollinators, reports The Washington Post.

“Mowing grass too short can cut the tops off flowering plants, creating lawns that are inhospitable for pollinators seeking habitats in which to feed, rest and nest, experts say. Keeping your lawn neat and trim not only is resource-intensive but can also affect its overall health,” the newspaper reports.

On the bright side, we now have a valid argument for not mowing lawns. [Washington Post]

Tell me something good …

Sometimes it feels like there is way too much going on. Do you have any hobbies that give you a sense of joy?

Priya writes:

“Birdwatching in one of the many forest preserves, this time of year they’re all in breeding plumage although you also have to make sure you’re not stepping on our wildflowers.”

And Amanda Stryker is also a fan of birdwatching, making me interested in diving into the hobby. Amanda writes:

“A recent hobby that I took up is bird watching! I’ve been up at the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary the last few weekends with my binoculars, and it’s been such a treat to hear all of the fun bird calls and share the excitement with other birders. (I’ve found it’s quite a friendly community!)”

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