Illinois prepares for the post-Roe America

Plus, renters in Chicago are feeling a housing squeeze. 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 Friday, and by now you’ve likely heard that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that had established a constitutional right to abortion for almost 50 years. Here’s what you need to know. 1. Pritzker calls lawmakers back to the Illinois Capitol to “further enshrine” reproductive rights   Vowing to “fight like hell” to protect access to abortions, Gov. JB Pritzker today called for a special session of the Illinois Legislature in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. An Illinois law passed in 2019 establishes abortion as a “fundamental right” and provides several protections to providers and people seeking the procedure.  But abortion advocates are concerned Illinois may be unprepared to handle an expected influx of patients from states where abortions are banned or severely restricted.  Planned Parenthood of Illinois estimates the state will see an additional 20,000 to 30,000 out-of-state patients, and the group is calling for more funding for abortion providers. [WBEZ] A protest for abortion rights will be held at 5 p.m. today at Chicago’s Federal Plaza. [Block Club Chicago] Meanwhile, President Joe Biden today called on voters to elect candidates who will work to restore abortion rights.  “Voters need to make their voices heard,” Biden said. “This fall Roe is on the ballot. Personal freedoms are on the ballot. The right to privacy, liberty, equality, they’re all on the ballot.” [NPR] Former President Donald Trump has privately and repeatedly told people that striking down federal abortion protections will be “bad for Republicans,” reports The New York Times. [NYT] 2. A look at what the end of Roe means in states neighboring Illinois   Missouri and Kentucky are among 13 states that have trigger laws designed to quickly ban abortions after a decision from the Supreme Court to overturn Roe. [NPR] In Missouri, a ban on nearly all abortions went into effect just minutes after the Supreme Court’s decision was announced. The state’s ban does not provide exceptions for rape or incest. The state law only applies to abortion providers (there’s only one in Missouri) and makes inducing the procedure a felony carrying a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. [KCUR] In Wisconsin, nearly all abortions are now illegal and punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.  However, the state’s attorney general said he would not enforce the abortion ban, but local law enforcement agencies can still choose to do so. [Wisconsin Public Radio] In Indiana, Republican legislators will likely advance restrictions on abortions at a previously scheduled special session beginning July 6, report The Indianapolis Star. It is unclear if they will grant exceptions for rape, incest or health of the pregnant person. [Indianapolis Star] 3. Ken Griffin’s exit from Illinois leaves his gubernatorial candidate behind   Chicago billionaire Ken Griffin made big news this week when he announced his Citadel hedge fund and his family are moving to Florida. But Griffin’s announcement is also “being read in some circles as a political slap in the face to his favored gubernatorial candidate,” reports my colleague Dave McKinney. That candidate is Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, whose GOP campaign for governor has received a staggering $50 million from Griffin.  Irvin emerged as an early frontrunner in the Republican primary, but a recent poll from WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times shows he is trailing behind state Sen. Darren Bailey, who has appealed to supporters of former President Donald Trump. A Citadel spokesman said the company’s move to Florida has nothing to do with next week’s Illinois primary. But the optics look bad for Irvin, said former Gov. Jim Edgar, a Republican who served two terms in office. “I guess he believes the polls,” Edgar said of Griffin. “It’s not a good endorsement for Irvin.” [WBEZ] 4. Renters in Chicago and throughout the nation find themselves in bidding wars amid a housing squeeze   A historic shortage in housing has created a “rental market that’s setting records for a lack of vacancies and high costs,” reports NPR. And many are staying in the rental market as rising mortgage rates make buying a home more expensive.  In Chicago, Sarah Da Costa says she went through a very weird process to find a new apartment this year. She went to open houses, something that’s typically associated with buying a home. And then her real estate agent told her to “submit your best and final!”  So Da Costa agreed to offer more money above the asking rent. “On this place that was actually smaller than the place we were living in before, and that was more expensive, we offered $150 more a month in rent,” she says. “And we still didn't get it.” [NPR] 5. A gay vacation mecca in rural Michigan   Here’s a charming story to read this weekend as Chicago’s Pride Parade returns for the first time in two years.  A small town in a staunchly Republican county in Michigan has “thrived as a vacationland for the LGBTQ community, leaning into its identity with freshly painted rainbow sidewalks, openly gay business owners, even a gay mayor at the helm,” reports Aaron Gettinger for WBEZ. The town is called Saugatuck. And it’s also the home of Robert Boyce, a 17-year-old transgender girl who, unlike the vast majority of trans teenagers who might feel oppressed by a small town, is in no hurry to leave. “Nobody really cares if you’re gay or if you’re straight,” she said as she volunteered as a parking attendant to raise money for her high school one recent June afternoon. [WBEZ] SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO Masters Program in Computer Science Earn a MS in Computer Science in one academic year! The MPCS offers a comprehensive and professionally-oriented computer science education that combines the foundations of computer science with the applied and in-demand skills essential for careers in technology.  Register for our upcoming webinar on July 20th at 12:00 p.m. central to learn program information, application deadlines, career outcomes, and more. Sign up here!  Here's what else is happening With the end of Roe, LGBTQ advocates fear a rollback of same-sex marriage and other protections. [AP] Netflix, Disney and other companies vow to cover travel costs for employees seeking abortions. [Hollywood Reporter] A nonprofit group in Illinois has begun providing free flights to help abortion patients travel to their appointments. [Chicago Tribune] A comic book tells the true story of efforts to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates among Black and Latino members of Chicago’s LGBTQ community. [Chicago Sun-Times] Oh, and one more thing... Few things crack me up more than the very Chicago story of how the city started its public library system. And it just so happens to be among the eight fun facts about our libraries that are highlighted in this week’s episode of Curious City. After the Great Chicago Fire, a whole bunch of rich people in England sent the city thousands of books. A library official back in the day told me that the English wanted to help the city rebuild its public library system.  But the joke was on them because Chicago didn’t have public libraries. The donations actually helped create our city-funded library system. [WBEZ] Tell me something good The Chicago Pride Parade returns this Sunday for the first time in two years. What’s one of your favorite memories of the LGBTQ holiday?  Gary McDowell writes:  “My favorite Pride memory has to be taking part in the NY Pride Parade with the UK Consulate on a float made up as a double decker red London bus, dancing to the Spice Girls.  “What made it particularly special was that Edie Windsor was also at the parade and we all got to wave to her — it’s thanks to her I was able to have my marriage to my husband recognized for immigration, and I owe my U.S. citizenship to her.  “My friend was the DJ on the float and refused my demands to play Kate Bush, for which I have never forgiven him. I took part in the parade with the consulate multiple years while living in the NorthEast, but there are no official UK Consulate photos of me in any year because I was always wearing a political tank top calling for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland (where I’m originally from — same-sex marriage is now legal there, but it’s only been since 2020, six years after the rest of the UK).” And Martha Daniels writes: “My favorite memory of Pride is from a time when I lived in Windsor, Ontario. The church I was pastoring at the time had a float full of people in their best rainbow gear. We were the loudest float. It was 2005, the year same-gender marriage was declared legal in Canada. The most popular song in our playlist (even beating out ‘Fernando,’ sorry) was ‘Take Me to the Chapel!’ ” Thanks to everyone who shared a lot of great stories. I’m sorry I couldn’t share them all, but it was nice hearing from y’all.  therundown@wbez.org | @whuntah Thanks for reading and have a nice night! Courtney will see you on Monday. — Hunter Clauss P.S. Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up to receive The Rundown in your inbox. VIEW OUR BROADCAST SCHEDULE ©Chicago Public Media Inc 848 East Grand Ave, Navy Pier Chicago, IL 60611 Please do not reply to this email. If you need assistance, you may contact us here. You are receiving this email because you are a WBEZ member or signed up to receive email communications from us. You can unsubscribe from The Rundown here. CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA'S PRIVACY POLICY