Good morning, Chicago.
Another St. Patrick’s Day in the books. Your green clothes off to the laundry or dry cleaner, ready to be then put back in your closet, those “Kiss me, I’m Irish” buttons tossed in a drawer, your memories of this edition of this most celebratory of local holidays stored someplace.
Rick Kogan, who attended the city’s first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1956, reflects on seven decades of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Chicago.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: a push to limit diesel emissions, a look back at Lollapalooza and Michael Jordan using two words and a fax machine to deliver a powerful message.
And featured on the front page of today’s Tribune: The Editorial Board takes a strong stance against OpenAI and Google’s pitch to take copyrighted content from our newsroom and others. Gutting generations of copyright protections for the benefit of AI bots would have a chilling effect not just on news organizations but also on all creative content creators, from novelists to playwrights to poets, writes the Editorial Board.
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Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 404 Palestinians and shatter ceasefire with Hamas
Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early today, killing at least 404 Palestinians, including women and children, according to hospital officials. The surprise bombardment shattered a ceasefire in place since January and threatened to fully reignite the 17-month-old war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement. Officials said the operation was open-ended and was expected to expand. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel’s actions.
Families impacted by ICE raids denounce Trump administration’s arrests, file emergency motion
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement unlawfully arrested and violated the rights of 21 immigrants and a U.S. citizen during raids in the Chicago area and other Midwestern states during the first days of the second Trump administration, advocates and attorneys said yesterday.
The National Immigrant Justice Center and the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois filed a motion in Chicago’s U.S. District Court Thursday seeking the release of two people still detained and the enforcement of remedies to prevent unlawful arrests by ICE.
Stricter truck pollution rule would prevent 500 deaths a year in Chicago region, study suggests
Switching to stricter California-style limits on truck emissions would prevent 500 deaths per year in the greater Chicago region by 2050, according to a new study from Northwestern University.
The study also found that 600 new childhood asthma cases would be prevented each year by 2050, and that neighborhoods with higher percentages of Black and Latino residents would see the greatest health benefits.
Cook County’s Democratic incumbents plant flags for 2026 re-election bids
With a year to go until the 2026 primary election, Democratic Cook County officials are marking their territory.
County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Sheriff Tom Dart, Treasurer Maria Pappas and Assessor Fritz Kaegi have all declared or signaled they plan to run again.
Chicago man charged in shooting death at suburban nightclub
A Chicago man was charged with two felonies in the shooting death of a 21-year-old woman at a suburban nightclub last weekend, Stone Park police announced yesterday.
Chicago Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw makes MLB debut on opening day at Tokyo Dome
Matt Shaw slotted fifth in the order for today’s opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Tokyo Dome. The Cubs thought Shaw could quickly move through the minor leagues when they selected him 13th overall in the 2023 draft. Development is rarely linear, but from president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer’s perspective, Shaw impressed by handling his 1½ years in the minors “exceptionally well.”
Sonia Citron could be the key to Notre Dame’s NCAA Tournament hopes — and a future WNBA star
It’s hard to knock Sonia Citron off balance. The Notre Dame senior guard isn’t easily rattled. Opposing teams have developed a habit of bodying her at the perimeter, trying to disarm her at the point of attack. It rarely works. Whether the Irish are on the verge of an upset loss or blowing out their opponent, Citron is never one to show her hand.
On a team known for no-look passes and flashy finishes, Citron is a metronome. Her calm demeanor has earned an affectionate nickname: “The Silent Assassin.” And it’s why she’s one of the most important players in the NCAA Tournament and one of the highest-ceiling prospects in the 2025 WNBA draft.
Vintage: The Tri-State Tornado ravaged Illinois in 1925, killing roughly 700 people
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the deadliest tornado in U.S. history.
The Tri-State Tornado struck southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois and southwestern Indiana on March 18, 1925, resulting in 695 deaths, more than 2,000 injuries and a path length of 219 miles stretching from southeast Missouri across southern Illinois into southwest Indiana. See photos from the our archives of the aftermath.
Muse performs at Lollapalooza in Grant Park on Aug. 4, 2007, the festival’s third year on the lakefront. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Remember when Lollapalooza was cool? New book ‘Uncensored’ dives into the history
If you’re a music fan of a certain age, “Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival,” a new oral history of the 34-year-old bacchanal, assembled from hundreds of interviews by music writers Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock, will swing from bittersweetly nostalgic to hedonistic to coldly rational. It begins, as so many festivals once did, with ambitious dreams of cultural utopias, and it concludes, as so many music festivals now do, in spreadsheets and brand marketing.
Lollapalooza is set to unveil its 2025 lineup today. Sign up for alerts to be notified when the artists are announced.
Women in wine: Chicago’s female wine professionals are driving change, but obstacles remain in an industry long dominated by men
The rising profile of women in the wine business has done much to reshape an industry long considered a boys club.
The Tribune spoke with four prominent women in Chicago about some of the challenges they’ve faced and how they’ve navigated their careers in wine.
Conan O’Brien will return as Oscars host in 2026
Conan O’Brien is returning to the Oscars stage in 2026. The late-night host and comedian will preside over the 98th Academy Awards, set for March 15, the film academy’s leadership said.
