Hey there! It’s Thursday! My brain has so many wrinkles that I literally fell asleep at 8 p.m. last night. Here’s what you need to know today.

(By the way, if you’d like this emailed to your inbox, you can sign up here.)

1. Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are highly effective against a coronavirus variant discovered in the U.K.

Recent lab studies suggest two leading coronavirus vaccines can protect people against a highly contagious coronavirus variant that was first discovered in the U.K. in December.

That’s extremely good news, as many health experts predict that variant could soon become the most common strain in the U.S.

But the two vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna showed reduced effectiveness against a more transmissible variant that is dominant in South Africa, according to studies recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. [Washington Post]

Citing concerns over variants, health experts are warning states not to lift mask mandates and relax restrictions on restaurants and other businesses. They are warning that recent progress in the pandemic could quickly reverse if these variants take off. [AP]

Meanwhile, the average life expectancy in the U.S. fell by a full year during the first half of 2020, the biggest drop since World War II, the federal government reported today.

The life expectancy from birth for the total population was 77.8 years. The group that saw the biggest decline were non-Hispanic Black males, whose life expectancy dropped by three years. [NPR]

Access to vaccines is a challenge for many Americans, but Black and Latino people face additional barriers.

WBEZ looked at how some hospitals in Chicago’s Black communities are starved for resources. And many Black residents live in areas that do not have a pharmacy. [WBEZ]

WBEZ reporter María Inés Zamudio writes about the obstacles her non-English-speaking parents faced as they tried securing an appointment. [WBEZ]

2. Chicago police were so unprepared for last spring’s unrest that they endangered protesters and officers

That’s according to a scathing report released today by Chicago Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, the top government watchdog at City Hall.

Ferguson found the city’s response to the unrest that erupted in late May was mired by “confusion and lack of coordination” that resulted in “strategic and tactical incoherence.” The report also repeatedly mentions instances in which Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown underestimated the potential for violence and looting.

The report said officers used “out-of-policy, dangerous and disrespectful” tactics against protesters. But as the Chicago Tribune points out, we may never know the extent of the alleged misconduct because many officers did not turn on their body cameras. [Tribune]

Meanwhile, a City Council hearing on plans to create civilian oversight of the Police Department was called off at the request of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who wants more time to draft her own proposal, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. [Sun-Times]

And activists and some aldermen are slamming Lightfoot for using $281.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief for the Police Department’s payroll. [WBEZ]

3. Texas officials ignored warnings that the state’s power grid was vulnerable to extreme weather

The current crisis in the Lone Star State could have been avoided if the Republican-dominated state legislature had heeded warnings from previous storms and not given utility companies too much leeway, according to lawmaker and energy and policy experts.

“Clearly we need to change our regulatory focus to protect the people, not profits,” Tom “Smitty” Smith, the former head of advocacy group Public Citizen, told the Texas Tribune.

The website reports that a 2011 winter storm similarly knocked out power in the state, and politicians and regulators were warned that the power grid needed more “winterizing” in order to prevent a repeat. [Texas Tribune]

Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz faces widespread criticism for traveling to Mexico for a family vacation as hundreds of thousands of Texans remain without power and water. [Texas Tribune]

How badly will the crisis and its ensuing public outrage hurt local Republicans? Democrats are hoping to weaken the GOP’s grip on state government by highlighting their oversight of the power grid. [New York Times]

4. Democrats unveil sweeping immigration bill backed by Biden

Congressional Democrats and President Joe Biden are trying to accomplish something that eluded former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush: providing a pathway to citizens for millions of immigrants living illegally in the U.S.

Democrats today unveiled the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, a bill that would set up an eight-year pathway to citizenship for an estimated 11 million immigrants, reports NPR. The bill would also speed up the immigration process for “Dreamers,” who are immigrants brought to the country at a young age by their parents or guardians.

Many Republican lawmakers are expected to oppose the plan, and Democrats may need to use alternative measures to get it approved in the Senate. [NPR]

5. Michael Madigan, decadeslong titan of Illinois politics, resigns after losing role as House speaker

Embattled state Rep. Michael Madigan today announced he will resign at the end of the month from the seat he has held for half a century, spanning nine Illinois governors, nine Chicago mayors and eight presidents, reports WBEZ’s Dave McKinney. The news comes after Madigan decided last month not to seek a 19th term as House speaker after he failed to garner enough support from lawmakers.

Madigan’s political future had been in question since utility company Commonwealth Edison acknowledged it participated in a bribery scheme to curry favor with Madigan. The veteran politician has not been charged in the federal investigation and denies any wrongdoing.

In announcing his resignation, Madigan defended his time in office and lashed out at his critics.

“It’s no secret that I have been the target of vicious attacks by people who sought to diminish my many achievements lifting up the working people of Illinois,” Madigan said in a statement. “The fact is, my motivation for holding elected office has never wavered. I have been resolute in my dedication to public service and integrity, always acting in the interest of the people of Illinois.” [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

• The U.S. reported more unemployment claims than expected last week. [CNBC]
• Planned Parenthood immediately filed a lawsuit after the governor of South Carolina signed a bill banning most abortions. [AP]
• Chicago so far has seen 19 snow-covered roofs collapse. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Former Cook County Democratic boss Joe Berrios will pay $100,000 to end two ethics cases against him. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

Will the WandaVision TV show on Disney+ offer a sneak peek into what’s next in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

There are a lot of rumors, and because I’m a giant nerd who can’t go outside anymore, I’m here for them. There are spoilers, so don’t read anymore of this section if you haven’t seen the show.

One theory suggests that WandaVision will introduce mutants to the MCU. Yes, please. America needs a good X-Men movie right now. (Actually, America just needs a good, new TV show period right now.) The theory goes that Wanda is unknowingly mutating the people stuck in Westview. [Hollywood Reporter]

Meanwhile, some fans are speculating that the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards (the stretchy guy) could be introduced in the TV show. Disney announced in December that it’s working on an FF movie, so I’m tempted to buy this theory. [The Wrap]

Tell me something good …

I’m going to do something different this week: What questions do you have for me?

Jessi writes:

“How did this newsletter come about? Was it a project that was pitched to you or by you?”

That’s a really good question. When I was hired at WBEZ about five years ago (gazes into a mirror that immediately shatters), then-CEO Goli Sheikholeslami wanted a brand new newsletter.

I studied what other news organizations were doing and not doing, and I presented some recommendations to a whole bunch of people, including Chief Content Officer Steve Edwards and Chief Marketing Officer Kassie Stephenson.

We had a series of meetings, and the thing you’re reading now is really a brainchild of those conversations. So it was really a team effort.

Nancy writes:

“I’m new to the WBEZ Rundown…received my first today. What’s the most exciting thing you’ve learned in putting this out?”

The most exciting thing I’ve learned is that there are a lot of smart people who read this thing. I get a lot of great questions and comments from readers about stuff in the news, and it’s really nice to work on something like this newsletter that really does feel like having a conversation with someone.

Got a question for me? I might have an answer! Feel free to email me at therundown@wbez.org or tweet me at @whuntah.

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