Good afternoon! It’s Monday, and I teared up a little while looking at these photos of “America’s reopening.” Here’s what you need to know today.

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1. Homes in Black and Latinx neighborhoods are valued less than ones in white areas. And that disparity has soared since 1980

Homes in predominantly Black and Latinx neighborhoods in Chicago were valued at about $324,000 less than similar ones located in white neighborhoods in 2015, according to researchers. In 1980, that disparity was about $50,000.

The figures come from an analysis by sociologists Junia Howell and Elizabeth Korver-Glenn, who found the racial gap in home values throughout the U.S. doubled from 1980 and 2015.

“Racial inequality is actually increasing over time — suggesting that our contemporary practices, not just our historical legacy, are exacerbating and contributing to how we are further racialized in these spaces and actually valuing white spaces as more valuable despite being really similar,” said Howell, an assistant director at Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research.

Don Robinson, a Black real estate agent and homeowner, told WBEZ that he wonders if he should start a business that helps Black homeowners erase their presence, like taking down Black photographs and artwork so their properties can sell at a higher price.

“One of the things that really hurt us most is that we do have to take the Blackness out, which really shouldn’t have an impact on the value of a home,” Robinson said. [WBEZ]

2. Supreme Court will hear a major abortion case

The Supreme Court announced today it will review a law from Mississippi that abortion opponents hope will lead to a significant rollback of the constitutional right to abortion established by Roe v. Wade.

The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, will give the Supreme Court’s 6-to-3 conservative majority its first opportunity to weigh in on abortion rights. The court will hear arguments in the fall, and a decision is not expected until the spring or summer of 2022.

The Mississippi law would prohibit abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy with very narrow exceptions. Lower courts have said the law is unconstitutional under Roe v. Wade. [NPR]

3. Diplomats seek truce between Israel and Hamas as deadly violence enters second week

The Israeli military today continued to carry out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip as Israel intends to press forward with its attacks on Hamas, reports The Associated Press.

At least 200 Palestinians have been killed since the warlike violence erupted, and some 1,300 people have been wounded, according to officials in Gaza. Ten people in Israel have been killed from rocket attacks launched in Gaza toward civilian areas in Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signaled the U.S. would support any effort to stop the fighting, but he stopped short of calling for an immediate cease-fire. Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ top leader, said the group had been contacted by the United Nations, Russia, Egypt and Qatar as part of cease-fire efforts. [AP]

4. About 39 million American families will begin receiving direct payments in July

The Biden administration announced today it will begin giving hundreds of dollars per month to millions of families on July 15 under a child tax credit created by Democrats’ coronavirus relief bill.

The administration says about 88% of children are set to get the benefits without their parents taking action. Families that qualify for the benefit will receive a monthly payment of $300 for each kid under the age of 6 and up to $250 for children between 6 and 17. [AP]

5. Chicago high school coach is put on leave amid allegations of inappropriate conduct

An investigation is underway at Chicago’s prestigious Whitney Young Magnet High School, where a physical education teacher and cross country coach is accused of misconduct, including sexually inappropriate comments and behavior toward girls at the school, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

The coach, Robert Geiger, has not been charged with a crime. Geiger told the newspaper that “the allegations are not true.”

Some of the allegations date back decades, and recent graduates told the Sun-Times that the school’s principal did not immediately address their concerns. One of the alumni told the newspaper that Geiger would help female runners stretch, and his hands would sometimes end up on their inner thighs and partially into their shorts. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• Gov. JB Pritzker says Illinois’ eviction moratorium will be phased out by August. [Chicago Tribune]
• The U.S. will send 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines abroad by the end of June. [AP]
• The Pitchfork Music will return to Chicago in September, another sign that this summer will look more normal than last year. [Chicago Tribune]
• The Chicago area could see temperatures in the 80s toward the end of the week. [Chicago Tribune]

Oh, and one more thing …

Two thousand Chicago high school students got a taste of the “before times” over the weekend as they celebrated prom inside Soldier Field.

Prom queen Belen Chavez wore a long red gown with a “Prom Royalty” sash, a dainty crown and a black face mask.

“I’ve been wanting this dress for the longest,” she told WBEZ’s Linda Lutton.

A Chicago Bears DJ played music for the prom, which was organized by the Noble Network of Charter Schools, which operates 17 high schools in Chicago. Each campus had an hour-long slot at the stadium.

Temperatures were checked at the door, and there was no slow dancing. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

I need a podcast to listen to because I’m taking a road trip soon. Got any recommendations?

I’m not super picky. I like a lot of stuff, from Nerdette to The Promise. I’ll be in a car for about five hours, and I’m in desperate need here.

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

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