Good morning, Chicago.
In less than a month, voters across Illinois will select their party’s nominees for an array of public offices.
Illinois Democratic and Republican voters will pick nominees for president as well as the delegates for the national nominating conventions. Some of the key local races include for U.S. Congress, the Illinois House, 23 of 59 seats in the Illinois Senate and two seats on the Illinois Supreme Court, though one is uncontested and outside the Chicago area.
Democratic primary voters in Cook County also will pick nominees in two races: Cook County state’s attorney and Cook County clerk of the Circuit Court. The other political parties don’t have contested races for both offices. And, in Chicago, voters will be asked whether they side with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s referendum question that proposes raising as much as $100 million for homelessness services by changing the graduated tax rate on the transfers of real estate.
Have questions about how to vote or key deadlines? We’ve got you covered. Here is our voters’ guide for Chicago residents and our guide for suburban residents.
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.
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Local Russians in exile decry war in Ukraine — and Putin — on invasion’s 2-year anniversary
On the full-scale invasion’s two-year anniversary, members of the Russian diaspora plan to gather in support of Ukraine at a rally Saturday at the Wrigley Building in Chicago, organized by members of local groups Voice of Free Russia Chicago and Chicago for Democracy in Russia.
Capital One’s Discover deal includes $1.38 billion breakup fee
Breakup fees are used to incentivize both parties in an acquisition to finalize the deal and deter either party from pulling out. Capital One agreed to buy Discover in a $35 billion all-stock deal expected to be completed in late 2024 or early 2025, pending antitrust reviews and shareholder approval.
Corn grows in front of an ethanol refinery on July 22, 2021, in Chancellor, S.D. (Stephen Groves/AP)
Biden grants gasoline policy shift to boost ethanol in corn belt
The Biden administration granted a fuel policy change designed to boost sales of corn-based ethanol — but delayed the shift until next year amid concerns a too-rapid transition could spur gasoline price spikes this summer.
A white-tailed deer forages for food on April 14, 2014, at the Heckrodt Wetland Reserve in Menasha, Wis.
Wisconsin Assembly approves increases in out-of-state outdoor license fees to help close deficit
The Wisconsin Assembly approved a bill yesterday that would raise a variety of hunting, fishing and trapping license fees for out-of-state residents to help shrink a deficit in the state’s fish and wildlife account.
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
FBI investigating Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard while Illinois attorney general orders her charity to stop soliciting donations
A charity organized by Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard has been told by the Illinois attorney general’s office to stop soliciting or accepting contributions, and that it must register with the state.
Separately, a law enforcement source confirmed federal authorities, including the FBI, are conducting an investigation targeting Henyard. The source said the probe has included recent interviews by investigators both inside and outside of Dolton, but is in the early stages and no charges have been brought.
The story behind the design of Southwest’s new disturbingly skinny seats
Southwest Airline’s new seats have travelers vowing to fly Delta.
The airline previewed a revamped cabin coming early next year in a video posted to TikTok, and commenters blasted the new seats as “lawn chairs” and “Ozempic seats” for their thin frame, and said they’d be booking flights with competitors.
Who might be available for the Chicago Bears at No. 9? A mini mock draft before next week’s NFL combine.
It’s premature to say how things will fall for general manager Ryan Poles and the Bears, but they find themselves in an advantageous position with the first and ninth picks in a draft that has strength and depth at quarterback, wide receiver and offensive tackle — at least two of which are primary needs.
- New coordinator Shane Waldron dodges talking about the Bears QB situation, but he says his offense is adaptable
- New coordinator Eric Washington is eager to put his fingerprints on the Bears defense
Boo Buie breaks Northwestern’s career scoring record in a 76-62 win over Michigan
Northwestern has a new scoring king.
Next up for Buie is the program record for games played. He can tie Drew Crawford’s mark of 143 on Wednesday at Maryland and break it on March 2 against Iowa.
Chicago’s unhoused are the focus of WTTW’s latest season of ‘Firsthand’ documentary series
Brian Rodgers, 50, had a typical upbringing, growing up with a working mother and grandmother who he said gave him everything he needed to succeed. But along the way, his values got misaligned from what he was taught. That landed him in jail many times.
Porno for Pyros at Salt Shed: Perry Farrell says he’s playing with more purpose than in his ‘punk’ years
What’s in a name? Porno for Pyros is a hell of a moniker, one of the most risque in rock ‘n’ roll. Any self-diagnosed “pyro” must be a freak show on wheels, right? A nihilist? Nothing could be further from the truth, at least insofar as it pertains to this band. Porno for Pyros’s founding frontman is Perry Farrell, a bringer of glad tidings, an extinguisher of fires — and a committed peacenik.
