Good afternoon! It’s Wednesday, and I got my stimulus check, which means I’ll be saving it like every responsible adult. LOL! Nope, I’m getting a bean bag chair for when I have to return to the newsroom. Here’s what you need to know today.

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1. Experts describe what a “return to normal” could look like

We may see a cautious return to social activities in the late spring and summer, and life could look even more normal by the fall, according to this fascinating look toward the future from NPR, which interviewed more than 20 infectious disease experts, epidemiologists, health officials and others.

However, the winter could bring another wave of infections, and we may need to get booster shots to combat variants that emerge. Further down the road, it remains to be seen how officials respond to social inequalities that were exacerbated by the pandemic, particularly among people of color and the elderly.

But, like everything else during the pandemic, there are huge caveats to this “timeline to normal”: We could see major setbacks if people pop open champagne bottles too early, if variants spread faster than shots are doled out and if the nation’s vaccination efforts unexpectedly get tripped up. [NPR]

In Chicago, officials are worried about an increase in infections. The city is reporting a seven-day average of 360 cases per day, up 23% from the previous week. Dr. Allison Arwady, the Chicago commissioner of public health, recently said that hitting a daily average of 400 cases would be a “sign of real concern.” [COVID Dashboard]

2. Vast majority of vaccines in Illinois are still going to white residents

A WBEZ analysis of state data found a majority of COVID-19 vaccines are still disproportionately going to white residents despite vows from officials to close racial disparities. Throughout the state, 68% of shots have gone to white residents. About 8% of vaccines have gone to Black residents, 9.5% to Latinx residents and 5.1% to Asian residents.

In Chicago, the numbers have improved only marginally since late January — even as city officials announced an ambitious program that sought to boost vaccinations in areas with large Black and Latinx communities. Around 44% of vaccinated residents were white as of March 19. That’s compared to 19% of Black and Latinx residents, respectively, and 7% of Asian residents. [WBEZ]

So what gives? A common refrain is pointing to vaccine hesitancy among minority groups, but research has shown that white Republicans are less likely to get shots than any other demographic. More than half of white Republicans polled by Civiqs last month said they were hesitant to get a vaccine, compared with around 30% of Black and Latinx Americans, respectively. [Axios]

3. Thousands of vaccines for Chicago teachers were wrongly given to other people

A company in charge of vaccinating Chicago Public Schools employees knowingly gave 6,000 doses to people who don’t work for the school district, city officials announced this week.

The company, Innovative Express Care, denies the allegations. But the city is replacing them with another service provider that appears to have a website built via Windows 95.

The Chicago Teachers Union is calling for an audit of vaccines intended for CPS employees, and it wants the City Council to evaluate the city’s partnerships with organizations that provide the shots. [WBEZ]

The news comes as the city’s vaccination efforts have received greater scrutiny following the scandals at Loretto Hospital, which is accused of handing out doses at well-connected organizations, like Trump Tower and a high-end watch shop, at the expense of residents in the hospital’s service area on the West Side.

Block Club Chicago reports today that employees at a trendy Gold Coast steakhouse that’s frequented by a Loretto official were also improperly vaccinated. [Block Club Chicago]

4. Colorado has suffered more mass shootings than most places in the U.S.

This week’s shooting at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., highlights a lot of disturbing facts about the nation. Here’s one that stood out to me: The Denver area had the third-highest number of mass shootings per capita among major metro areas since 1999, according to an analysis by the Denver Post in 2019.

Colorado Public Radio examines what it’s like to be a survivor in an area that is haunted by so much trauma.

“What it does to the community is it shatters their comfort zone,” said John Nicoletti, a local police psychologist. “Things that used to be inside of our comfort zone are no longer in there.” [CPR]

Meanwhile, The Washington Post recounts what happened inside the King Soopers supermarket as a gunman opened fire and killed 10 people. Authorities have not determined a motive.

Ryan Borowski told the newspaper he drove to the grocery store to get ice cream, but he changed his mind and decided to head toward the chips aisle. He then heard three shots coming from the area where he would have been if he went through with his plans to pick up ice cream.

“Someone came running toward me looking terrified and I turned to run with her,” he said. “We heard more shots, maybe eight total. We ran to the back of the store, through a door that took us through an employee area.” [WaPo]

5. New York Times obtains new videos in the attack of Officer Sicknick at the U.S. Capitol

The videos show how U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick was attacked by bear spray on Jan. 6 as he stood guard outside the Capitol. Sicknick later collapsed and died the next night.

Authorities have arrested and charged Julian Elie Khater and George Pierre Tanios for assaulting Sicknick and other officers with bear spray, which is more powerful than pepper spray and is not intended to be used on humans. [New York Times]

Meanwhile, new evidence suggests the insurrection was more coordinated than previously known. Court papers filed by the Justice Department say a member of the Oath Keepers paramilitary group claimed to form an “alliance” with the Proud Boys and a far-right, self-styled militia. [NPR]

Here’s what else is happening

• Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois backed away from her vow to block President Biden’s nominees who aren’t diverse candidates. [NPR]
• Former President Trump suggests he’ll start his own social network, but that may be easier said than done. [NPR]
• A growing number of sports fans would rather watch highlights over live games, according to a recent survey. [Axios]
• Things went sideways for a massive container ship in the Suez Canal. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

A man in Los Angeles says he found shrimp tails in a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and now I have to find something else to eat for dinner tonight.

The man, writer and comedian Jensen Karp, said he also found a small string, something that looked like a pistachio and “small black pieces” on cereal at the bottom of the box. He told The New York Times he fears the black marks are rat feces and sent samples to a lab.

And because this story couldn’t be any more random, Karp is the husband of actress Danielle Fishel Karp, who played Topanga in Boy Meets World. [NYT]

Tell me something good …

I finally completed watching the four-hour Zack Snyder cut of the Justice League, and I’d like to know who would be on your superhero team if you could pick anyone.

Jenny Peel writes:

“My superhero team would be an elite female squad: Scarlet Witch, Wonder Woman, Fennec Shand, Xena Warrior Princess, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Elastigirl, Shuri for weapons/technology, Maj. Margaret Houlihan for our medical needs, and the one male, Pacey Witter, to do all the cooking. Oh, and Chaka Khan because she’s awesome.”

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

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