WBEZ’s Rundown Of Today’s Top News: Trump’s Path To Victory Gets Slimmer And Slimmer

White House 2020 Election
Journalists gather outside the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, in Washington. Evan Vucci / AP Photo
White House 2020 Election
Journalists gather outside the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, in Washington. Evan Vucci / AP Photo

WBEZ’s Rundown Of Today’s Top News: Trump’s Path To Victory Gets Slimmer And Slimmer

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Good afternoon! And TGIF! Wait … what? It’s Wednesday? Oh well, here’s what you need to know today.

1. A bitterly divided nation watches tight races in four battleground states

Election authorities in Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania continue to count ballots, leaving the states too close to call. And President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden still have pathways to winning the 270 electoral votes needed to achieve victory.

But Biden maintains a competitive advantage after being declared the winner of Wisconsin today by The Associated Press. And CNN just moments ago projected that Biden will pick up Michigan. That means that Trump’s pathway to victory has become much narrower. [AP]

You can find more live updates about the election in this link. [NPR]

Meanwhile, here’s a look at when we may know the results in several key states. Some states could be known relatively soon, while others may need days to process the remaining ballots. [NPR]

Over in the Senate, Republicans appear to be in a good position to retain the majority. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, declared victory today, and Democrats have only flipped one seat so far. [NPR]

2. Illinois voters reject graduated income tax

And that puts Gov. JB Pritzker back to the drawing board as he confronts a massive budget shortfall during a time when the coronavirus pandemic has decimated revenue streams.

Pritzker has said the state could be short $6.5 billion in this year’s budget and the next. His administration estimated the graduated income tax, which would shift the tax burden on the wealthy, could generate $3.4 billion over the course of a year.

As WBEZ’s Tony Arnold reports, “the options for confronting the state’s massive budget hole are cuts or an increase in the flat 4.95% income tax.” [WBEZ]

In other local election news, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx fended off Republican challenger Pat O’Brien in a race that was largely framed as a referendum on her criminal justice policies. [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, voters elected the first openly transgender candidate to public office in Illinois. Jill Rose Quinn declared victory last night to fill a Cook County judicial vacancy. [Chicago Tribune]

Illinois state Sen. Iris Martinez will be the first Latina to serve as Cook County Circuit Court clerk. [Chicago Sun-Times]

And the feared unrest in Chicago has not materialized. Here’s a collection of election night photos. [WBEZ]

3. Illinois reports more than 6,000 new coronavirus cases for 8th day in a row

Coronavirus infections continue to climb as Illinois health officials today reported 7,538 new cases and 55 deaths. The state’s rolling, seven-day average is 6,970 cases per day, which is up 81% from the average two weeks ago.

In Chicago, the rolling average is 1,271 cases a day, an increase of 36% from the previous week’s average. [WBEZ]

New coronavirus cases are also rising nationwide, and seven states reported record high hospitalizations this week. In Iowa, officials warn hospitals could soon be overwhelmed if no serious action is taken to stem the spread of the virus. [AP]

Meanwhile, the UK is preparing for a new lockdown that begins tomorrow. Pubs, restaurants and other nonessential businesses will be forced to remain closed until at least Dec. 2. [AP]

4. Supreme Court hears case that weighs LGBTQ rights with religious freedom

The Supreme Court, now with a solid conservative majority, stepped into the nation’s culture wars today.

The nation’s high court heard oral arguments in a case that “pits the rights of a city to enforce its anti-discrimination policies in contracting against the rights of religious groups,” reports NPRs Nina Totenberg.

The case is over whether the city of Philadelphia can enforce a nondiscrimination policy for sexual orientation on Catholic Social Services. The child-welfare agency lost a city contract for foster services after it refused to accept LGBTQ applicants. [NPR]

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court appeared closely divided yesterday in a case that questions when juveniles can be sentenced to life without parole. [NPR]

5. Chicago Public Schools steps up argument that some students can return to classrooms

Chicago Public Schools officials today said that 90% of schools meet air quality and ventilation standards that would make it safe for students to return to classrooms.

The figures come as CPS officials want to provide in-person classes to pre-K students and some special needs students as soon as this month. But the Chicago Teachers Union argues that plan could expose its members to the coronavirus.

The union is seeking a court injunction to prevent CPS from forcing clerks and other staff to work in buildings, and a hearing is expected tomorrow.

As WBEZ’s Sarah Karp reports, “there are many reasons why it’s increasingly unlikely that students will return any time soon. The number of COVID-19 cases has surged in recent weeks. The daily case count now far exceeds 400, a benchmark the city cited earlier this year for teaching remotely only.” [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

  • The U.S. is now officially out of the global climate accord known as the Paris Agreement. [AP]
  • Transgender activist Sarah McBride will become the nation’s first openly transgender state senator. [NPR]
  • Voters in five states approved measures to legalize marijuana, and Oregon will be the first state to decriminalize small amounts of street drugs. [Chicago Tribune]
  • Apple, Netflix and other streaming services considered buying the next James Bond movie, No Time To Die. [Variety]

Oh, and one more thing …

This week’s episode of Nerdette Recaps with Peter Sagal is timely: The crew revisits the dark comedy Election starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick.

Did the movie age well, or is it cringeworthy? Find out by listening to Greta Johnsen, Tricia Bobeda and Peter Sagal as they compare Tracy Flick to Leslie Knope and reminisce about their very own student council campaigns.

And tune in next week, when the Nerdette gang reviews Boys Don’t Cry. If you’d like to weigh in on any of the movies featured on Nerdette Recaps, you can email a voice recording to nerdetterecaps@gmail.com. Just tell them you know me. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

What’s your favorite comfort food?

Diane H. writes:

“My favorite comfort food is grilled mac and cheese sandwiches. It’s a simple grilled cheese sandwich but add some mac and cheese to the sandwich and grill as usual.”

Juhi writes:

“My favorite comfort food, especially on chilly fall nights, is a plate of barbecue seitan wings from Chicago Diner. They’re vegan, of course, but they’re oh so hearty and stick to your ribs, and make you feel like you’re getting a warm hug. (I think we all need that kind of comfort in times like these.)”

What’s your favorite comfort food? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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