Chicago strengthens abortion protections

Plus, Illinois has the most Muslims per capita in the U.S. 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   Hey there! It’s Thursday, and we could get 31 new emojis this year. Funny how my phone has no more room for photos but can accommodate a whole bunch of new emojis. Or that one U2 album . Here’s what you need to know today. 1. Lightfoot signs an executive order to further strengthen abortion protections in Chicago   Mayor Lori Lightfoot today signed an executive order barring the Chicago Police Department and other city agencies from helping out-of-state authorities investigate people who traveled to the city for an abortion — or medical providers who assisted them. The order is similar to one Mayor Harold Washington signed in 1985 that prohibited city employees from enforcing federal immigration laws, reports veteran City Hall reporter Fran Spielman at the Chicago Sun-Time. Lightfoot’s order will remain in place “until September, when the City Council is expected to approve a more sweeping ordinance championed by Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33rd) and her progressive colleagues,” Spielman reports.  That ordinance would set aside at least $1 million for reproductive care and clinic defense in the city’s budget for next year. [Chicago Sun-Times] 2. Chicago Public Schools braces for a bus driver shortage   The nation’s third-largest school district is prioritizing the transportation needs for students with disabilities, homeless students and those in low-income families as it plans for bus driver shortage, reports my colleague Sarah Karp. That also means students at magnet and selective enrollment schools will no longer be guaranteed bus service to class, even if they live relatively far from school. Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez said the district can provide routes for all 15,000 students whose families have already requested it. But new requests from special education students during the school year could push magnet and selective enrollment students off buses, he said. [WBEZ] Meanwhile, back-to-school shopping is colliding with higher prices from inflation. [Chicago Tribune] 3. The U.S. economy shrank in the last three months, but jobs are still being created. So what’s going on?   The economy shrank for a second quarter in a row, fueling concerns the nation may be heading toward a recession. But the economic data has been very mixed, giving a sense that the nation is in uncharted territory. For starters, the job market remains relatively strong and unemployment is low, and that typically isn’t the case in the run-up to a downturn. Having said all that, there’s no denying the economy has weakened — and done so by design. The Federal Reserve has aggressively raised its benchmark interest rate as it attempts to tamp down on inflation. That makes money more expensive to borrow. And economists are watching to see if that will start hurting job growth. [NPR] 4. This could be ‘the most ambitious action ever taken by the United States to try to stop the planet from catastrophically overheating’   That’s how The New York Times described a $369 billion climate and tax plan that Senate Democrats hope to advance as soon as next week. The news comes after a stunning agreement was announced with Sen. Joe Manchin, a holdout who just weeks ago said he would not support a climate bill due to concerns over inflation. Now, the “announcement of a deal, after many activists had given up hope, almost instantly reset the role of the United States in the global effort to fight climate change,” the Times reports. The bill would offer tax incentives aimed at greatly expanding sources of clean energy and keep open nuclear energy plants that would otherwise close. For everyday Americans, the bill would provide tax credits for new electric vehicles depending on their incomes. And rebates would be provided to Americans installing heat pumps to make their homes more energy-efficient. [New York Times] 5. Illinois has the most Muslims per capita in the U.S.   A fascinating, first-of-its-kind report is out today, finding that Illinois has the most Muslims per capita than any other state in the nation. “A snapshot of Illinois’ Muslims is a snapshot of American Muslims,” said Erum Ikramullah, research project manager for the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. The institute partnered with the Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition and the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at the University of Illinois Chicago to create the report after three years of research. “The report estimates that there are more than 350,000 Illinois residents who self-identify as Muslim — roughly 3% of the state’s population,” reports my colleague Esther Yoon-Ji Kang. “The report also says Muslims are the youngest and most diverse faith community in the state, consisting of members of various races, ethnicities and nationalities.” [WBEZ] SPONSORED BY THE ALZHEIMER ASSOCIATION'S WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S YOU Can Walk to End Alzheimer’s The 2022 Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer’s kicks off at Soldier Field on Saturday, October 8th. All funds raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer's further the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.   Walk on your own or as part of a team. Make it a family day, participants of all ages are welcome to join this fundraiser.   Walk will take place with Covid protocols in place. Find out more about how you can help raise funds in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, volunteer for the event or make a tax-deductible donation. Details are available HERE. Here's what else is happening Chicago police targeted African Americans in 63% of traffic stops last year, according to the ACLU of Illinois. [Chicago Sun-Times] Lollapalooza kicks off today in Grant Park, and city officials say they’re confident they can keep the large festival safe. [Chicago Tribune] The Mega Millions jackpot is now $1.1 billion. [AP] A Chicago theater director takes on the Bard. [WBEZ] Oh, and one more thing... Oh ho ho, Harry Potter. I’ve got your wand! An interactive attraction called “Harry Potter: Magic at Play” is slated to open in Chicago in November. And it allows fans to pretend they’re a kid wizard, simulating “Harry’s journey into wizarding with hands-on playing and exploring,” reports the Sun-Times. I’m totally going to show up in a Boba Fett costume. [Sun-Times] Tell me something good What is your favorite song of the summer? Margaret Joray writes:  “Our household’s current song of summer is Rosalía's ‘La Fama’ featuring The Weeknd. Sooo catchy and sultry, and the video is epic.   “And shoutout to Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen's incredible summery/nostalgic duet ‘Like I Used To’ — I’m playing that on repeat in anticipation of seeing them at the Salt Shed in a couple weeks!” And Ralph Bishop writes:  “ ‘Under the Boardwalk’ by the Drifters. From 1964 but the song is as timeless as first love itself.” Feel free to email or tweet me, and your response might be shared in the newsletter this week. therundown@wbez.org | @whuntah Thanks for reading and have a nice night! I'll see you tomorrow.  — Hunter Clauss P.S. 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