Good afternoon! It’s Thursday, and my hopes for seeing Taylor Swift’s concert next weekend have been revived. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Chicago promised students would do better after closing 50 schools. That didn’t happen.

Research showed students needed to go to significantly higher performing schools to see better academic outcomes. But the neighborhoods where CPS wanted to close schools had few high-performing options nearby.

As a WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times investigation found: “The academic outcomes for K-12 students from the closed schools weren’t better than for children who attended similar schools that stayed open, an analysis of state and city data shows. And their outcomes were far worse than the city averages.”

The investigation also found that about half the K-12 students from the closed schools didn’t stick with their first-choice school after the closings.

Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and then-Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett did not respond to requests for comment. [WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times]

2. Here’s what is — and isn’t — in the state’s tentative budget deal

Illinois Democratic leaders agreed on a budget framework that includes an additional $200 million pension payment and $250 million in added funding for Gov. JB Pritzker’s plan to help stabilize the childcare workforce and eliminate preschool deserts, my colleague Tina Sfondeles reports.

Meanwhile, $400 million is allocated for economic development deals and attracting businesses and jobs.

And continued funding will be available for the $250 million Reimagine Public Safety Act to prevent gun violence and expand funding for youth employment programs.

As negotiations continued, funding for some items remained murky, including health care for undocumented people, a program funding private school scholarships and money for school district projects.

The deal still needs to clear both chambers of the Legislature — with voting expected to occur in the coming days. [Chicago Sun-Times]

3. Cook County employees could soon receive 12 weeks of paid parental leave

The Cook County Board is expected to vote next month on a measure that would direct the county to implement a new parental leave policy, Kristen Schorsch writes for WBEZ.

The shift would offer a longer leave and apply to far more parents working for Cook County government.

Currently, the county offers workers “a range of time off, depending on whether the birth is surgical or not, whether they are the birthing parent or whether they are adopting. Employees can then use paid sick and vacation time to extend their leaves,” Schorsch reports.

County employees come back to work after about seven weeks on average — even if they aren’t emotionally or physically ready, said Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen. [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, the board today unanimously approved a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in unincorporated Cook County. [Chicago Tribune]

4. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign announcement was full of glitches

The announcement was supposed to be an uninterrupted, live-streamed conversation between DeSantis and Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces.

But technical issues like crashing and echoing disrupted it from the beginning.

As NPR reports: “The start of broadcast was delayed for a few minutes and then it cut out twice. Tech investor David Sacks, who was supposed to introduce the event, could be heard saying: ‘The servers are melting.’ ”

When Musk put up a new livestream that seemed to work, most of the audience did not join. [NPR]

5. A nonprofit plans to restore the aging Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse hopes the restoration would help attract more visitors to the city and help the landmark serve as a teaching tool for younger generations, my colleague Emmanuel Camarillo writes for the Chicago Sun-Times.

First built in 1893 and reconstructed at its current location east of Navy Pier in 1917, the lighthouse functions automatically but hasn’t had a keeper for decades.

The group envisions a three-stage plan: allow boat tours to visit close to the site, restore the lighthouse so it’s safe enough to go inside and celebrate the lighthouse with exhibits.

There’s no timeline for the plan, and cost estimates were redacted in a copy of a report released by city officials.[Chicago Sun-Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• The last Chinese emperor’s wristwatch — authenticated by an Oak Park journalist — sold for $6.2 million. [Chicago Sun-Times]

• Here’s what the 2020 census can tell us about LGBTQ+ people. [NPR]

• The Supreme Court limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority over water pollution. [New York Times]

• A utility watchdog says ComEd’s proposed rate hike is $914 million too high. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Oh, and one more thing …

Summer festival season is almost upon us. While the headliners typically get most of the attention, my colleague Andrew Meriwether has a guide to local up-and-coming acts you won’t want to miss.

From DJ Miriam at Sueños Music Festival this weekend to AUSAR at Summer Smash next month, check these artists out before they become bigger names.

The guide also has a handy Spotify list where you can sample each musician’s sound. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

With HBO’s Succession coming to an end on Sunday, I’d like to know: What TV show did you enjoy right up until the finale? (Please avoid spoilers).

Susan writes:

“The TV series that stays with me years later, from pilot to final episode,

is Babylon 5. Creator J. Michael Strazynski created a compelling 5-year

story arc which, despite being threatened with ending in 4 years (leading

to a change in sponsoring networks), managed to recreate a cohesive fifth

year. B5 consistently delivered some of the most thought-provoking sci fi

around.”

Jeff writes:

“I’ve been hooked on Chicago Med when I discovered by accident. Worked back though all of the seasons. I like the characters, writing and Chicago locations. The ensemble is rich with good actors. The show is also well directed.”

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