Hey there! It’s Monday, and tonight I’ll be listening to “Harvest Moon” under the harvest moon. Here’s what you need to know today.

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1. Mayor Lightfoot’s proposed budget includes more money for police, but no major new taxes

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled her 2022 budget proposal today, the first step in the annual negotiations over how the city should spend its money.

The $16.7 billion “Recovery Budget” relies on federal money to close the city’s projected spending gap and wouldn’t raise major taxes or fees. It includes an 11% increase in spending for the Chicago Police Department, hundreds of millions toward social services and about $188 million for climate issues, including retrofitting city buildings with renewable energy sources and planting 75,000 new trees.

What happens next? A slew of hearings and debates among city departments, aldermen and the mayor. The City Council must approve a budget by the end of the year. [WBEZ]

2. New study finds Pfizer vaccine is safe for kids

The first results from a trial studying the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine’s effect on kids under 12 are in, and there’s good news for parents.

Initial findings show two smaller dosage shots are safe and establish a strong antibody response against the virus in children ages 5 to 11, the pharmaceutical company reports. Still, it could be awhile before kids start rolling up their sleeves. After the trials are done, Pfizer will still need to submit the results to the Food and Drug Administration for review and approval — a process that could take months. [NPR]

Meanwhile, the White House announced today that international travelers can enter the U.S. if they’re fully vaccinated and tested negative for COVID-19 within three days of their flight. [NPR]

3. Another reason the Bears might leave Soldier Field: sports betting

Like lots of tenants, the Chicago Bears have long feuded with their landlord, the Chicago Park District, over leases and renovations, even suggesting this year that it might be time to look for a new home.

But newly obtained documents show there may have been another factor pushing the team to consider relocating: a play for sports betting.

Just two weeks before the NFL franchise announced it was putting in a bid for a sprawling property in suburban Arlington Heights, the team’s president accused the park district of refusing “to engage in good faith discussions” about expanding gambling opportunities at and around Soldier Field, WBEZ’s Tony Arnold reports.

Sports betting has already generated nearly $5.5 billion in wagers since it became legal in Illinois in 2019. Owning their own stadium could allow the Bears to tap into the gold rush without landlord approval, although a spokesman for the franchise said the team’s potential move was “completely unrelated.” [WBEZ]

4. Ald. Jim Gardiner tried to pay a campaign worker with city funds, sources say

Embattled Chicago Ald. Jim Gardiner, 45th Ward, is facing additional allegations of misconduct — this time related to misuse of taxpayer money, WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel reports.

During his 2020 race for ward committeeman, sources say Gardiner got help from an employee who worked at his aldermanic ward office. When the employee allegedly asked to be paid for their campaign work, Gardiner allegedly said he’d give them a $10,000 raise to their tax-funded salary instead of paying them using his campaign account. The employee then resigned, telling sources they had ethical concerns about the payment plan.

Gardiner, who is facing inquiries by multiple agencies and possible City Council censure for crude texts about constituents and colleagues, did not respond to requests for comment. [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, local Democrats are calling for Gardiner to be removed from the progressive fundraising platform ActBlue, referring to him as “Chicago’s very own Donald Trump.” [Block Club Chicago]

5. Activist who inspired Hotel Rwanda convicted on terrorism charges

Paul Rusesabagina, whose heroism during the 1994 Rwandan genocide inspired a film starring Don Cheadle, was sentenced to 25 years in prison today after being found guilty of terrorism charges he and his family say are politically motivated.

A prominent opposition activist, Rusesabagina is a vocal critic of powerful Rwandan President Paul Kagame and has pushed for democracy in the African nation. Rusesabagina was arrested in 2020 after a plane he believed was flying to Burundi took him to Rwanda instead, where he was charged with supporting a rebel group that’s been accused of violence.

In March, Rusesabagina, who holds Belgian citizenship, withdrew from his trial in protest, accusing the court of bias and arguing he had been kidnapped by Rwandan authorities.

Last year, journalist Anjan Sundaram told NPR that “in general, any opposition to President Kagame has almost been like a death sentence for most politicians or opposition candidates. Many of them have ended up dead, in prison, sometimes beheaded.” [NPR]

Here’s what else is happening

• “Chicagohenge” returns this week. [Chicago Tribune]

• Garbage collection delays are stinking up New Orleans, so residents held a “Trash Parade” in protest. [NPR]

• Federal prosecutors have rested their case in R. Kelly’s New York trial. [NPR]

• Two students were wounded in a shooting at a Virginia high school. [AP]

Oh, and one more thing …

Ted Lasso scored big at last night’s Emmy Awards — and, in a sign that I should probably give in and shell out for Apple TV+, our fair city got to share in a bit of the glory.

In his acceptance speech for lead actor in a comedy series, star Jason Sudeikis, who plays the show’s titular football-turned-soccer coach, name-dropped three Chicago theaters that helped him get his start: Second City, the Annoyance and iO. [Sun-Times]

The Midwest connections don’t end there. Reset recently caught up with former Chicagoan Brendan Hunt, aka Ted’s even-keeled sidekick Coach Beard, to talk about how his Illinois upbringing helped shape the series. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

As a redhead who burns to a crisp under the summer sun, I couldn’t be more excited for the start of fall. To kick off the season, I want to know: What’s your favorite fall food?

Personally, I’m a big fan of my mom’s pumpkin squares, mashed potatoes and lots and lots of soup. What about you? Send us your recommendations, and we might share them here this week.

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