What happens in Illinois if Roe v. Wade is overturned

Plus, the location of Chicago's first casino could soon be announced. Here's what you need to know today.

To view this email as a web page, click here. Today's Rundown is brought to you by WBEZ members and   by Hunter Clauss   Good afternoon! It’s Tuesday, and like many of you, I was up late last night absorbing the Politico news about a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. Here’s what you need to know today. 1. What happens if Roe v. Wade is overturned   Abortions will remain legal in Illinois if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Illinois is one of 16 states, plus the District of Columbia, that have protections in place for abortion rights, according to The Washington Post. But many states near Illinois would ban or severely restrict access to abortions, with Missouri and Kentucky having “trigger” laws that go into effect immediately if the nation’s high court strikes down Roe.  You can find a map of where states stand in the link. [Washington Post] Illinois Democrats today vowed to step up their fight for abortion rights.  Gov. JB Pritzker said he is prepared to contribute to Democrats who support reproductive rights and face tight races in the midterm elections. He said Illinois would remain a “beacon of hope in an increasingly dark world.”  “I’m so tired of the same old BS on the right. Don’t angrily shout about freedom and then engineer it away from more than half of Americans,” Pritzker said. “Stop pretending you’re patriots when you’re cheering the death of democracy.” State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Democrat from Chicago, said the state needs to find ways to help people in states that may restrict or ban abortions, such as helping them get to Illinois and become residents, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. [ST] The Women’s March organization, meanwhile, is calling for people across the nation to protest today at 5 p.m. outside federal buildings, town halls and city centers. [NPR] 2. Chief Justice John Roberts says the draft opinion is authentic but stresses it’s not a final decision   Chief Justice John Roberts today in a statement confirmed the authenticity of the draft opinion and announced an investigation into the leak, which he denounced as a “singular and egregious breach” of trust. He also stressed the draft opinion, which Politico reported was prepared in February, was not the court’s final decision. After Roberts confirmed the authenticity of the draft opinion, President Joe Biden said it would be “quite a radical decision” if it is ultimately handed down. And he said it could more broadly affect other rights Americans have come to expect, such as same-sex marriage. Biden again said he supports Congress codifying Roe into law, but declined to say whether he thinks Senate Democrats should end the legislative filibuster to do so. [NPR] Only 28% of Americans support overturning Roe, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted last week. Fifty-four percent say the landmark decision should be upheld. [WaPo] 3. Lightfoot could announce the location of Chicago’s first casino as soon as Thursday   And the mayor is expected to pick a bid from Bally’s Corporation to put a casino at the Chicago Tribune printing plant site at Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street, sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times.  The city signaled in March that Bally’s proposal was a frontrunner over two other finalists. It was the only bid that offered an upfront payment of $25 million for the license. And Bally’s was finalizing a labor agreement today, the Sun-Times reports. Whenever the decision is announced, it will set off a fight in the City Council. Aldermen Brian Hopkins and Brendan Reilly, who represent areas near the site, oppose the casino, as do many residents.  But Ald. Walter Burnett Jr., whose 27th Ward is home to the site, said he supports the casino because the alternative is a pre-election property tax increase. “I would rather vote for a casino than vote for a property tax increase. Definitely. If we can come up with an alternative to raise money, then I’m cool. We don’t have to have it. But I don’t know where we’re gonna get $200 million a year, along with the $25 million to $75 million up front,” Burnett said. [ST] 4. Wealthy Chicago neighborhoods are hiring private security, raising questions about accountability   Block Club Chicago has been diligently covering how community groups in affluent neighborhoods have increasingly turned to armed private security amid an increase in crime. As the news organization reports, “the practice is drawing questions, with some residents asking who, in turn, is watching the private officers and who will hold them accountable.” Mayor Lori Lightfoot this week said there is “a slippery slope here, and I’m very concerned.” “We don’t want to have a circumstance where public safety is only available to the wealthy,” she said. Community groups have hired private security to patrol parts of Bucktown and Lincoln Park, and more groups say they are interested in doing the same. [Block Club] 5. Inside Chicago’s bid for the 2024 Democratic National Convention   The bid got even more serious today with the launch of a website touting the city and a nearly three-minute promotional video narrated by rapper, actor and Chicago-native Common. Working on the bid are Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth. They say Chicago is the ideal location for the convention because it embodies Democratic policies and programs, such as raising the minimum wage, protecting abortion rights and investing in clean energy. Bids are reportedly due on May 27, and Chicago could face competition from Milwaukee, where leaders have signaled an interest in bidding for the 2024 convention after the 2020 event went virtual amid the COVID-19 pandemic. [WBEZ] SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO HARRIS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY *Not Another* Politics Podcast There’s a lot of noise created by our constant news cycle, but few ways to grasp what’s really going on in politics today. Not Another Politics Podcast —launched and produced through the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy — provides a fresh perspective on the biggest political stories by focusing on research and data, not pundits and politicians.   Understand the political science beyond the headlines with Harris Professors William Howell, Anthony Fowler, and Wioletta Dziuda.   Listen to the latest episode of Not Another Politics Podcast wherever you download your podcasts.  Here's what else is happening U.S. employers posted a record 11.5 million job openings in March. [Washington Post] Residents of Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood mourn the loss of a celebrated Whole Foods and ponder what’s next. [WBEZ] Here are seven primary races to watch as voters head to the polls in Indiana and Ohio. [NPR] Patti Smith is headlining at Chicago’s Metro this week for the first time, kicking off 40th-anniversary celebrations for the hallowed rock club. [Sun-Times] Oh, and one more thing... What is Chicagwa and why does City Hall want me to drink it? The Lightfoot administration announced its own limited-time brand of canned tap water called Chicagwa, which is a tie-in to National Drinking Water Week, a holiday I didn’t know existed until today. The initiative “highlights Chicago’s access to the water supply and the importance of water infrastructure in general,” reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Starting tomorrow, a limited number of cans will be available for free at Manny’s Delicatessen, Kuma’s Corner, Wiener’s Circle, Real Good Stuff Co. and Dark Matter until they run out.  The cans will have six different labels featuring designs from local artists Don’t Fret, Anthony Lewellen, Joey Depakakibo, Kate Lewis, Langston Allston and Elloo. [Sun-Times] Tell me something good Mother’s Day is this Sunday. So I’d like to know what is one of your fondest memories of your mom? Randi writes:  “There are too many good things to say about my mom. While she was definitely strict, she has always been loving. Even today, I called her in tears that my own daughter is growing up before my eyes and she said, ‘Sometimes you just watch them with your heart in your throat.’  “I summon her with my own parenting. As a teen, she would inevitably tell me all the things I couldn’t do. When I complained that everything was so unfair and that I was so mad, she would remind me that I didn’t need to like her because she wasn’t running for office.  “It used to infuriate me. Now I remind myself (with her voice inside my head) that I am not running for office. I am just being a mom.” Feel free to email or tweet me, and your response might be shared here this week. therundown@wbez.org | @whuntah Thanks for reading and have a nice night! I'll see you tomorrow. — Hunter Clauss P.S. Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up to receive The Rundown in your inbox. 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