Daywatch: Rep. Kinzinger says he’ll join Capitol insurrection investigation, Illinois COVID case average up fivefold from last month and what to know about Lollapalooza 2021

Good morning, Chicago.

COVID-19 infections are on the rise in Chicago and Illinois. As of Friday data, the seven-day average of daily cases across the state has increased by five times in the past month after reaching the lowest point in late June since the beginning of the pandemic.

And the increase isn’t just in Illinois. As you’ve probably seen, the rising case numbers across the U.S. are dominating headlines. The nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said yesterday that the rise is being fueled by people who are unvaccinated and the delta variant, and warned that “we’re going in the wrong direction.”

Meanwhile, in Tokyo, it was a busy weekend for our local Olympians. Glenview’s Olivia Smoliga helped the U.S. reach the final of the 400-meter freestyle relay — then won a bronze medal in an unexpected way. Geneva’s Kevin McDowell finished sixth in the triathlon — the best-ever finish for a U.S. male — after a long road back from cancer. He’ll next compete Friday in a new event — and has a good shot to medal. On the basketball court, the Sky’s Stefanie Dolson heard her nickname called early and often as the U.S. women’s 3×3 team stayed undefeated, while the Bulls’ Zach LaVine and men’s squad dropped their opener. Day 3 in Tokyo is just ending — here’s who has won medals for the U.S. so far. And read all our coverage here.

— Nicole Stock, audience editor

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Rep. Adam Kinzinger agrees to join panel investigating January insurrection at the Capitol

Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon, an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump and his GOP allies in Congress, said Sunday he has agreed to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s request to join the select committee examining the Jan. 6 insurrection

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Kinzinger said he “humbly accepted” Pelosi’s request, adding that the investigation requires a “serious, clear-eyed, nonpartisan approach.” He vowed to “work diligently to ensure we get to the truth and hold those responsible for the attack fully accountable.”

Chicago mothers share pain and join hands in a collective effort to halt gun violence as another summer ensues

More than 100 victims being shot over the July Fourth holiday in Chicago makes people look past the city’s beautiful skyline and the majestic shores of Lake Michigan. This is especially true for the mothers whose children fell victim to this city’s streets.

These women will forever have an empty space in the pit of their stomachs, and with every mention of gunfire, their hearts flutter with panic as Chicago reminds them of a nightmare their children couldn’t escape.

Child tax credits bring relief to Chicago families, but critics worry some are left out. ‘It doesn’t actually reach many of the most vulnerable.’

For Chicago resident Lana Waters, the recent arrival of her first $550 child tax credit check will ease the pinch to her pocketbook when shopping for back-to-school supplies and uniforms this month for her two young daughters. Waters is among many Americans receiving the monthly payments, which began arriving automatically this month for those who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or signed up to receive a stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service.

While President Joe Biden is calling for Congress to extend the expansive tax relief effort beyond this year, some critics warn that because the funds automatically reach only those who file taxes, the poorest of the poor could inadvertently be excluded.

As first victim of Chicago’s 1919 race riots finally receives a grave marker, here’s a look at other notable people buried in Lincoln Cemetery

The burial site for Eugene Williams at Lincoln Cemetery in Blue Island — which was unmarked for 102 years — finally received recognition Saturday thanks to the efforts of a group of concerned citizens. The Black 17-year-old, whose raft drifted south past an invisible line segregating neighborhoods by color, was stoned to death by an unidentified white man near 29th Street Beach on July 27, 1919, sparking the worst race riot in Chicago history.

If you plan to visit Williams’ grave in Section 5 of the cemetery, here’s a guided tour of others within Lincoln Cemetery not to be missed.

Our guide to Lollapalooza 2021: What to expect, proof of COVID-19 vaccine and rules to enter

After largely taking last year off due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (minus a well-received and executed livestreaming event), Lollapalooza is back and bigger than ever, taking over Grant Park in Chicago from July 29 to Aug. 1. Here’s what you can expect from the festival this year, from COVID-19 vaccine proof to rules for entry.

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