Hey there! It’s Wednesday, and I’ve been watching HGTV’s “House Hunters” a lot lately. Some of the complaints people have kill me. If I were on that show, I’d very pretentiously say, “Excuse me? The front door isn’t a revolving door? You expect me to turn a knob?” Here’s what you need to know today.

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1. Chicago unveils statue of Ida B. Wells, the city’s first monument to a Black woman

A statue honoring iconic journalist and activist Ida B. Wells was unveiled today in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood — the first monument in the city that commemorates a Black woman.

The statue, called the Light of Truth Ida B. Wells National Monument, is located on the former site of a public housing development once named after her. Among Wells’ more famous quotes is: “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” [Chicago Tribune]

Wells, who moved to Chicago in 1893, was a renowned anti-lynching crusader, civil rights activist and investigative journalist. WBEZ’s Curious City previously looked at the lasting impact Wells had on Chicago. [WBEZ]

2. The Trump Organization and a top official could be charged this week

The Manhattan district attorney’s office is expected to charge the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer tomorrow, reports The Associated Press, citing people familiar with the decision.

The criminal charges would be the first since prosecutors launched an investigation into the business dealings of former President Donald Trump’s company three years ago. The AP reports the charges are over alleged tax evasion from fringe benefits, like the use of apartments, cars and school tuition.

Tomorrow’s expected charges do not signal the end of the Manhattan D.A.’s broader investigation into the Trump Organization. The New York attorney general’s office is also looking into the company’s business dealings. [AP]

3. More residents sue condo association over Florida building’s collapse

A resident of the Champlain Towers South complex is seeking class-action status in a lawsuit claiming the building’s condo association was aware of, or should have been aware of, major structural problems and failed to fix them, NPR reports.

At least two other lawsuits have been filed against the condo association. The latest one, from resident Raysa Rodriguez, contains terrifying details about the night of the building’s collapse, which killed at least 16 people and left more than 140 people missing.

“I run to the exit, open the doors that lead to the outside stairwell and saw the devastation,” she said. “The beachside of Champlain had collapsed, pancaked. I screamed in horror.” [NPR]

Meanwhile, The Washington Post has an in-depth look at the collapse that raises more questions about whether existing damage in the building’s pool area contributed to the disaster. [WaPo]

4. An alleged pattern of inmate beatings is fueling calls for independent oversight of Illinois’ prisons

State lawmakers and activists, appalled by several allegations of guards beating inmates, are demanding more transparency and accountability over how Illinois prisons investigate claims of brutality and misconduct, reports WBEZ’s Shannon Heffernan.

At least nine people say a group of guards beat them in an area of the Western Illinois Correctional Center that was not monitored by video cameras. Now, three guards face criminal charges for allegedly beating a 65-year-old inmate to death in 2018.

“If we don’t have outside monitoring, it will be very difficult to see real change in our correctional facilities,” said state Rep. La Shawn Ford, who is part of the push to reform how complaints from inmates are handled. [WBEZ]

5. Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction is overturned

Bill Cosby was released from prison after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court tossed out his sexual assault conviction, ruling Cosby had been denied a fair trial.

It is not immediately clear if prosecutors will appeal the decision or seek another trial against the entertainer. Cosby has served more than two years in prison after being convicted in one of the most high-profile trials in the #MeToo era.

Cosby was arrested in 2015 on charges of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman 11 years ago at his home in the Philadelphia area. Cosby’s first trial ended in a deadlocked jury, and a retrial resulted in Cosby being found guilty and sentenced to three to 10 years in prison. [AP]

Here’s what else is happening

• Here’s what you need to know about the Delta variant and how Illinois officials are responding. [WBEZ]
• The Chicago City Council will hold a special meeting on Friday as aldermen put more pressure on the Lightfoot administration to reduce violence. [WTTW]
• A spectator who caused a massive pileup during the Tour de France has been arrested. [CBS News]
• Getting a COVID-19 shot? This Bud’s for you. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

The Chicago Park District will once again have free movie screenings this summer in city parks beginning July 6.

The park district has a large lineup of movies that includes Black Panther, Onward, Bill & Ted Face the Music, The Goonies and, a personal favorite, Labyrinth.

In college, we’d play a drinking game every time David Bowie swung his hips in Labyrinth. Get it, Goblin King! [Block Club Chicago]

Tell me something good …

It seems like everyone I know is buying house plants or gardening, so I’d like to know what you’re growing, planting or buying this summer.

Jennifer from Elgin writes:

“We have a 27-year-old ficus tree that I have managed not to kill by rolling it indoors in the winter and leaving it on the porch in summer. Spider plants are wonderful for cleaning the air, but my cats eat them and then throw up everywhere, so I took it to work.

“I also grow lots of heirloom tomatoes in pots in my tiny backyard. We live in an old part of Elgin and the lot sizes are pretty small, so when a tax sale came up and the vacant lot next door went on the block, we could finally afford it! I am hoping to put in several raised beds next spring and grow everything I need for salsa making: tomatoes, cilantro, jalapenos, onions, shallots, garlic, lots of herbs like basil, chives and oregano would be nice, too.”

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

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