WBEZ’s Rundown Of Today’s Top News: Chicago, Other Cities Face Crime Waves

CPD
Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
CPD
Manuel Martinez / WBEZ

WBEZ’s Rundown Of Today’s Top News: Chicago, Other Cities Face Crime Waves

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Good afternoon! It’s Monday, and this house won Pride Month. Here’s what you need to know today.

(By the way, if you’d like this emailed to your inbox, you can sign up here.)

1. Chicago and other cities face pressure to confront violence as the pandemic recedes

Cities across the nation are reporting a huge increase in crime that shows little sign of slowing down. According to The New York Times, homicide rates in major cities were up more than 30% on average last year and 24% for the beginning of this year.

The jump in crime, from shootings to carjackings, has business leaders concerned that customers will be scared away from returning to bars, restaurants and other establishments as cities begin to fully reopen. And city leaders are worried that tourism will be down for another summer.

Part of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to reduce violence includes the expansion of city resources in 15 high-crime areas. [NYT]

Over the weekend, four people were killed and 43 others were wounded in shootings in Chicago, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Nearly 60 people were shot last weekend. [Sun-Times]

2. Most Chicago voters do not support renaming Lake Shore Drive, poll finds

A poll of 600 registered Chicago voters found that 41% oppose changing the name of Lake Shore Drive to honor Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, a Black pioneer who is considered by some to be the city’s founding father. The poll found 32% are in favor and 24% were undecided, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

The poll was conducted by FAKO Research and Strategies, and it was paid for by Aldermen Brian Hopkins and Brendan Reilly, who represent parts of the downtown area and oppose renaming one of Chicago’s most iconic roads.

Digging into the numbers, 48% of African Americans surveyed said they support the name change, along with 32% of Latinos and 25% of white voters. [Sun-Times]

Meanwhile, Mayor Lightfoot today announced the city will recognize Juneteenth as an official city holiday. [Sun-Times]

3. Lightfoot loses her cool in an email to aides

A lot of people have been talking about “the email” obtained by Chicago Tribune reporter Gregory Pratt. Over the weekend, Pratt tweeted a screenshot of an email sent by Mayor Lightfoot to her aides, telling them she needs more time in the office.

“I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday! I need office time everyday!” the mayor wrote.

Each paragraph in the email followed the same pattern of repeating a single statement. In another tweet, Pratt said the mayor’s schedule showed Lightfoot sent the email during office time. [Twitter]

A source close to the mayor told Politico that the email “wasn’t her finest moment.” [Politico]

And as you could probably guess, the email sparked some hilarious comments from the peanut gallery. [Twitter]

4. Former Elgin schools superintendent named interim CPS CEO

Mayor Lightfoot today named former Elgin schools superintendent José Torres as the interim CEO for Chicago Public Schools.

Torres will face a number of challenges as he oversees the nation’s third-largest school district. CPS is preparing to fully reopen schools in the fall, and the district has to decide how it will spend an expected $1.8 billion in federal stimulus money. The district also must unveil its proposed budget this summer.

But perhaps the biggest question mark is what kind of a relationship Torres will have with the Chicago Teachers Union, a frequent critic of Lightfoot. [WBEZ]

5. Almost 69% of Illinois adults are partially vaccinated

State officials are today reporting that 52% of adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and about 69% have gotten at least one shot. That means Illinois is close to reaching President Joe Biden’s goal of partially vaccinating 70% of adults by July 4. [IDPH]

But the nation as a whole is unlikely to meet the president’s target, reports CNN, adding that we’ll likely reach between 67% and 68%. [CNN]

Perhaps unsurprisingly, coronavirus infections are dropping in states with high vaccination rates, according to an analysis from The Washington Post. Many states that are struggling with vaccinations were ones that voted for former President Donald Trump in last year’s presidential election. [WaPo]

Meanwhile, WBEZ’s Manuel Martinez and Courtney Kueppers looked at how seniors in Chicago are finding joy as the city fully reopens. [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

  • NATO leaders are taking a more aggressive approach to China, declaring the country a security challenge. [AP]
  • President Biden will meet face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. [NPR]
  • Evacuations were ordered in Rockton, Ill. after a massive fire erupted at a chemical plant. [Chicago Tribune]
  • A Pekingese named Wasabi won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. [AP]

Oh, and one more thing …

Despite falling coronavirus infections, the city of Chicago is taking a pass this summer on the Blues Festival, the Gospel Festival and the Jazz Festival, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Instead, three events at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion will take their place, with a night of gospel music on Sept. 3, jazz on Sept. 4 and blues on Sept. 18.

The newspaper reports there’s still no word on whether the Air & Water Show will take place this summer. [Chicago Tribune]

Tell me something good …

WBEZ is holding its summer pledge drive, which helps pay for this newsletter and keeps it free to the public. So I’d like to know what you enjoy about public radio, whether it’s your favorite show, podcast, host or memory.

One of mine is when NPR’s Ari Shapiro did a story about the meth epidemic by putting on a towel and sneaking a tape recorder into a gay bathhouse in 2005.

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

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