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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Tribune…
* Eight days. The Daily Northwestern…
…Adding… A new poll from the Healthcare for Action PAC conducted by Tulchin Research…
…Adding… Gov. JB Pritzker is holding a General Election kickoff event with his Lt. Gov pick Christian Mitchell on Tuesday, March 17th at 5:30 pm. * Capitol News Illinois | Report outlines premature deaths, chronic health problems among homeless Illinoisans: [I]n his 2026 budget address on Feb. 18, Gov. JB Pritzker proposed that funding for Home Illinois be reduced by $7.6 million, bowing to headwinds from federal budget cuts and Illinois budget belt-tightening. It was the second straight year seeing a cut in funding for housing programs, including Pritzker’s signature program designed to eliminate homelessness in the state. […] The IDPH report found that 2,996 people died statewide from 2017 to 2023 while experiencing homelessness. Their average age at death was 20 years below the statewide average. More than 300 of those who died were veterans, and 30 had worked in the public sector, including as police officers, paramedics and correctional officers. * Chicago Reader | The death of diversity: Universities—in Illinois and across the U.S.—fall in line amid Trump’s attacks on higher education: The UI system, made up of three public universities across the state, is ending all scholarship and financial aid policies meant to increase enrollment from Black, Latine, LGBTQ+, and women students, according to the October announcement. Scholarships awarded before October 14 will not be affected. Two sources at the school described another email from university administration, sent to faculty the following day, that said the higher education system is also walking back goals set in 2022 to improve staff diversity and ending a recent norm of promoting faculty based on how they demonstrated principles of diversity and equity in their service, teaching, and research. * WSIL | State Treasurer Announces Expanded Eligibility for ABLE Accounts in Illinois: A provision that took effect this year increases that age limit to before a person’s 46th birthday, opening the program to millions more people nationwide. “This is a game changer. The initial law, while vital, unfairly excluded too many men and women based on a random age requirement,” Frerichs said. “We pushed to fix this unjust limitation, and we look forward to providing a tool that so many more people can use to save their own money to increase their independence.” Before ABLE accounts were created, people with disabilities could not accumulate more than $2,000 in assets without risking their eligibility for benefits such as Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid. Money saved in an ABLE account does not count toward that limit. * Tribune | Two low-funded Republicans battle to run against Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias in the fall: For the GOP nomination for secretary of state, Joliet resident Diane M. Harris is going up against Chicagoan Walter Adamczyk for the right to compete against first-term incumbent, Democrat Alexi Giannoulias, in November’s general election. […] A precinct committeewoman for more than a decade, Harris is a retired Commonwealth Edison employee, having spent more than 30 years working for the utility giant. She’s also run unsuccessfully for several other offices over the years, including for state senator and Joliet mayor. * Press release | AG Raoul vows to continue case against Live Nation/Ticketmaster for illegally monopolizing live entertainment industry: Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of state attorneys general today issued a multistate statement regarding the ongoing antitrust case against Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, for illegally monopolizing the live entertainment industry and concert ticketing services. “In May 2024, a bipartisan group of state attorneys general joined the U.S. Department of Justice to sue Live Nation for monopolizing the market for ticketing and using its monopoly power in the concert venue market to reinforce and protect that monopoly. For too long, Live Nation has raked in billions from a monopoly that has made it harder for consumers to see the artists they love, stifled artists and increased the price of tickets for countless music fans. * The Daily Northwestern | The crypto lobby has poured $8.6M into Illinois primaries. Analysts say some candidates are quietly vying for its support: A Daily analysis of federal election filings based on lobby-tracking initiative Follow the Crypto offers a glimpse into the extent of the crypto lobby’s $8.6 million investment in Illinois races. Another analysis of campaign questionnaires sent to Stand With Crypto, an advocacy group linked to Fairshake, suggests that at least eight Illinois congressional frontrunners may have tacitly vied for the lobby’s support. * NYT | How Candidates Are Using Winks and Posts to Seek Crypto and A.I. Cash: In Jesse Jackson Jr.’s race, the A.I. industry is spending on his behalf at the same time that the main pro-crypto super PAC is blanketing the district with attacks on one of his opponents, Robert Peters, a Democratic state senator who voted for state legislation that the crypto industry opposed. One of the mailers accuses Mr. Peters of being a “fighter for corporate interests” and calls him a “corporate pawn,” even though the mailer is funded by the crypto industry. In an interview, Mr. Peters said the attacks were outrageous, as were Mr. Jackson’s not-so-subtle solicitations. (On his website, Mr. Jackson writes that he supports “a framework to responsibly address reasonable regulation for cryptocurrency” and he filled out a crypto industry questionnaire on Christmas Eve last year.) * Evanston Now | Amiwala’s pitch? Ignore the noise and don’t count her out: The moment Bushra Amiwala stepped outside of her Skokie campaign office Monday, a person driving by yelled out to her to say “hi.” Quickly, Amiwala waved back, before echocing an important message on the first day of early voting in the suburbs – “Don’t forget to vote.” The countdown is on for the Democratic primary in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, a seat that has been held by just two people over the course of nearly three generations, and while Amiwala, the 28-year-old Skokie School Board member and community activist doesn’t register as a “top three” candidate in polling, she still sees a path to victory, angling for an upset on March 17. * NBC Chicago | Juliana Stratton lays out her case in 2026 Illinois Senate primary: In an interview with NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern, Stratton laid out her vision for what a career in the Senate might look like for her, and she said her relationship with Pritzker is only part of that equation. “I’m going to bring the voices of the people of Illinois with me to Washington, D.C. And I hope to continue to be a partner to not just the governor, but for all of our leaders here in Illinois that are facing the chaos that’s coming out of Washington, DC,” she said. “We need strong leadership, we need courageous leadership and that’s what I intend to bring. And I’m very proud to have Governor Pritzker’s support in this race.” * Press release | Fine Campaign Knocks 100,000 Doors: “After knocking doors in every corner of the district, we are ready to sprint through the tape in the final week,” Laura Fine said. “I’m proud of the work of our team in rain, snow, and bitter cold, building support from voters of all walks of life. From Glenview to Rogers Park, from the Fox River to Lake Michigan, we are talking about my plans to make Medicare for All a reality.” The Fine Campaign has knocked on 101,700 doors throughout the ninth congressional district, talking to voters in each of the district’s 436 precincts. The robust field campaign is powering the Fine Campaign’s path to victory. * Sun-Times | Chicago area short nearly 225,000 affordable rental units for its poorest residents, report finds: Chicago’s affordable housing shortage is placing severe financial strain on low-income renters, according to a new report released by Housing Action Illinois and the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The study found only 31 affordable homes are available for rent for every 100 extremely low-income renter households in the Chicago metro area. In Illinois, it’s 34 available homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter household. * Block Club | Still Sore Over Budget Battle, Mayor Warns Chicago Could Face Financial Crisis: “When we ran the numbers, the revenue assumptions simply didn’t add up,” Budget Director Annette Guzman said. “Under our analysis, that plan would leave the city about $163 million short and set us up for a midyear budget crisis.” In December, Chicago’s City Council passed a so-called “alternative budget” just days before a year-end deadline to approve a balanced spending plan and avoid a potential government shutdown that could have disrupted city services and paychecks. * Crain’s | Trump defends law firm exec orders in revived Jenner appeal: The Trump administration defended its executive orders against Chicago’s Jenner & Block and other law firms today, telling an appeals court that judges cannot dictate presidential actions or speech when it comes to issues such as national security. “Courts cannot tell the President what to say. Courts cannot tell the President what not to say,” the Justice Department said in its 97-page appellate brief filed this evening. “They cannot tell the President how to handle national security clearances. And they cannot interfere with Presidential directives instructing agencies to investigate racial discrimination that violates federal civil rights laws.” * Crain’s | Chicago sees the ‘missing middle’ as sweet spot for addressing the city’s housing shortage, repopulating neighborhoods: The city’s answer: repopulate the neighborhood by selling city-owned vacant lots that can be developed into sorely needed housing. This approach, “missing middle infill housing,” addresses Chicago’s persistent housing shortage for middle-income households and helps upgrade neighborhoods while also offering construction assistance to qualified developers. As part of Chicago’s $75 million Missing Middle Housing Initiative, five two-flat residential buildings will be going up on West 34th Place. Ramirez grew up just blocks away near West 40th Street and Western Avenue, and hopes the project is the beginning of better days ahead for this working-class, immigrant-heavy community. * WTTW | CPD Failed to Document 267K Traffic Stops in 2025, 27% More Than Previous Year: Data: Chicago Police Department officers made 267,240 undocumented traffic stops in 2025, an increase of nearly 27% as compared with the number of traffic stops officers made in 2024 but did not properly document for state officials, according to records obtained by WTTW News. That means officers made an average of 732 traffic stops every day in 2025 that were not documented as required by CPD policy and state law, according to data from the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. * Crain’s | Chicago tests war-rattled muni market with $800M bond sale: The city is scheduled to sell $800 million in general obligation debt Tuesday, on the heels of a downgrade from Fitch Ratings. That includes $508 million taxable and $292 million tax-exempt, according to bond documents dated Feb. 27. Since then, the Iran war has pushed oil prices to new highs, and rattled stocks and bond prices, even extending to state and local government debt. * Crain’s | As Obama Center nears debut, signs emerge of a changing neighborhood: In Woodlawn, newly developed homes stand out — sleek gray and white three-flats that contrast with the brick, multiunit buildings that make up much of the area’s housing stock. For-sale prices for new-construction homes land around $500,000, out of reach for many neighborhood residents, said Kimberly Salley, executive director of community organization Sunshine Gospel Ministries. About a third of the neighborhood’s population lives below the poverty line and three-quarters of households are renters, according to data from the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University. * Patch | DuPage State’s Attorney Rescinds Sheriff Endorsement: In a message to Patch, State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said he informed Moore of his decision a day earlier. […] Berlin, a Republican, did not give the reason for his decision, nor did he say whether he would endorse Noonan. This week, Patch reported on a 2021 bar incident in Wisconsin that resulted in a disorderly conduct charge against Moore. The Daily Herald and the DuPage Policy Journal, a conservative publication, did so in January. * Daily Southtown | Will County Board member Jacqueline Traynere found guilty of computer tampering: Will County Board member Jacqueline Traynere was found guilty Monday on two counts of computer tampering, both misdemeanors, and not guilty of a third count of computer tampering after a 2024 incident in which she accessed a member of the opposing party’s email without permission. […] Traynere testified last week she was testing a rumor she heard at the county office building the day before that all board members had the same email password when they were issued new computers. * Lake County News-Sun | Waukegan mayor part of Great Lakes delegation in Washington: ‘It went extremely well’: Spending three days in Washington, D.C., last week, Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham and 23 other municipal leaders from the U.S. and Canada spoke to officials at the White House and members of Congress about the importance of fresh water and economic stability. As part of a delegation from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative that went to Washington for the organization’s Great Lakes Day, Cunningham said the mayors and other officials made a pitch for water resources funding and tariff relief, as well as other needs. * Daily Herald | Family of man fatally shot by Carol Stream police gets $9.4 million settlement: The family of a man shot to death by Carol Stream police in 2024 will receive $9.4 million to settle their federal lawsuit against the village and six of its police officers. A U.S. District Court judge accepted the settlement and closed the case Feb. 17, according to court records. Under the terms of the deal, the agreement is not an admission of liability by the defendants, nor a sign that either party prevailed. * Crain’s | Biotherapy maker CSL plans $1.5B expansion near Kankakee: Australian biotherapeutics maker CSL plans a $1.5 billion expansion of its manufacturing facility near Kankakee that will add 300 jobs. The company, which makes plasma-based immunotherapy products, employs about 1,200 people at its plant in Bradley. It will build a new facility to produce immunoglobulin therapies, Privigen and Hizentra. The expansion will bring the company’s full manufacturing process, from plasma collection through filling and packing, entirely to the U.S. * STLPR | Public comment on air pollution limits for Metro East coal plant ends Monday: The public has until the end of the day on Monday to weigh in on how much pollution a Metro East coal plant should be allowed to put into the air. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is asking the public to send written comments on a new permit for the Prairie State coal plant. The plant is located near Marissa in Washington County, about an hour southeast of downtown St. Louis. According to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the plant emits pollutants such as the cancer-causing chemicals chromium and vanadium, which can cause issues with the blood and lungs. The plant also topped the list for greenhouse gas emissions in Illinois in 2023. * WGLT | Bloomington child care center was under DCFS investigation when it closed: A spokesperson for DCFS said Bright Horizons Bloomington closed while an investigation was taking place. The agency would not confirm the nature of that investigation and Bright Horizons said that was not the reason for the closure. Illinois DCFS currently handles licensure for child care centers, in addition to investigating allegations of abuse or neglect. The department’s Sunshine Accountability Project lists Bright Horizons Bloomington’s license as “surrendered under investigation.” * WSIL | Volunteers needed to revive historic Saline County Poor House: The Saline County Poor House, established in 1839, served the county’s poor until its closure in the 1950s. Volunteers will work on tasks such as repairing porches and rehabilitating the building’s exterior. Volunteer sessions run from Sunday evening to Friday morning. Meals and mentorship are provided, and volunteers can camp on-site. * NPR | Bill Kurtis retires as ‘Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!’ judge and scorekeeper: Bill will still be a part of the Wait Wait family, filling in as judge and scorekeeper, lending his powerful voice to winner voicemails, and popping into the Wait Wait socials to say hi. His last show will be May 23. Plans around a successor for the role will be announced soon. * Chaoticera | On Facebook, it now pays to post about politics: While most creators I spoke with declined to share exact revenue figures, one said they were earning “six figures” a month from Facebook. Others described monthly payouts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. Most shockingly, one prominent liberal news creator shared a screenshot showing a January 2026 payout of $268,000. Annualized, that would put this one individual’s potential Facebook earnings at roughly $3 million this year—just for posting. * WIRED | Bluesky CEO Jay Graber Is Stepping Down: This isn’t the end for Graber and Bluesky. She will transition to become the company’s chief innovation officer, a role focused on Bluesky’s technology stack rather than its business operations. The position was created for her. Graber, who began her career as a software engineer, has always sounded the most enthusiastic when discussing Bluesky’s technology rather than its revenue streams.
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It’s just a bill
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Chicago Tribune…
Rep. Evans’ HB4518 was assigned to the House Executive Committee in February. Evans is the bill’s only sponsor and the House isn’t scheduled to return to session until March 18. * WAND…
SB3374 passed unanimously out of the Senate Executive Committee last week. * 25News Now…
* More…
* WSPY | Grundy Co. Board Committee Approves Resolution Supporting Proposed Illinois Grooming Bill: The Grundy County Legislative committee last week approved a resolution to support Illinois House Bill 1140 and Senate Bill 284, otherwise called Andrews Bill. […] Grundy County Board Chairman Drew Muffler said they been working on language for the resolution with the State’s Attorney’s Office.
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Oppo dump!
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Click here. Lots in there, but, in my opinion, here’s the biggest slam on Kat Abughazaleh’s claim of being “a working class person”… Ownership history is here. Homestead exemptions are here. * To be clear, there’s nothing at all wrong with having a father who sold his hedge fund administrative services business to Bank of New York Mellon, a mother who owns three mineral rights claims on natural gas wells and a grandfather who was a business associate of the Kuwaiti royal family. And, in all seriousness, good for her for striking out on her own. But working class? C’mon.
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Illinois Credit Unions: Expanding Financial Inclusion
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Illinois credit unions play a central role in expanding financial inclusion, especially for underbanked households who may lack access to safe, affordable financial services. As member-owned, not for profit cooperatives, their mission naturally aligns with serving people overlooked or priced out by traditional banks.
• Safe, Affordable Alternatives to Predatory Lending • Financial Education and Literacy Programs • Tailored Services for Low Income Communities • Community Partnerships and Outreach • Fair and Inclusive Lending Practices • Support for Small Businesses & Local Economic Development Credit unions serve the underbanked by focusing on access, affordability, education, and inclusion. Their member-owned structure and mission of “People Helping People” uniquely position them to fill gaps left by traditional banks—strengthening the financial health of individuals and the communities they call home. NuMark Credit Union President & CEO Michelle Balog shares that their focus is to “enrich the financial lives” of their members. Watch more about Michelle’s goal to serve the “underbanked, or underserved, possibly even unbanked…to make sure they have access to the services the credit union offers”:
For more information, visit https://betterforillinois.org/ Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.
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Illinois court case against ChatGPT highlights problems with AI offering professional services advice
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * The curious case of Des Plaines resident Graciela Dela Torre, Nippon Life Insurance Company and ChatGPT via the International Business Times…
Lots more in there, so take a look. Nippon’s lawsuit is here. Wow. * From Michael Stanisci…
* Back to IBT…
* An update from Stanisci…
* From the bill’s synopsis…
* Illinois has a much more narrow law on its books. From an IDFPR press release…
Your thoughts?
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US Senate call and response (Updated)
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Call… * Response… Discuss. …Adding… A campaign fund backed by our billionaire governor claims rich interests are trying to buy a US Senate seat for Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is, the PAC says, “for sale”…
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Today’s quotable: ‘We’ll fix it in the Senate’
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Daily Herald…
Oof.
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Mendrick threatened to jail Pritzker if elected governor
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * The Tribune takes a last look at the Republican candidates for governor. We highlighted this Ted Dabrowski claim earlier, but here’s the Trib…
The Tribune refrained from using the all-too-common “policy guru” tag about Dabrowski and explained his former employer far more accurately: “former president of the conservative Wirepoints activist organization.” * But I did learn some things, including this about DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick…
Um, OK. There’s lots more so go read the whole thing.
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Slipping into darkness
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Discuss.
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When RETAIL Succeeds, Illinois Succeeds
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Ethos Training Systems in Chicago’s Roscoe Park neighborhood is where fitness meets a holistic approach to health. Co-owners Tim Cohen and Cory Lester created Ethos to help people understand their potential and elevate both body and mind while fostering a strong, caring community. At Ethos, workouts support all experience levels and ages, focusing on accessibility, sustainability, and results that keep you coming back. Findings of a recent economic study are clear: the retail sector is a cornerstone of the state’s economy and crucial to our everyday lives. Retail in Illinois directly contributes more than $112 billion in economic investment annually – more than 10 percent of the state’s total Gross Domestic Product. Policies that support small businesses help communities thrive as retailers like Ethos Training are better equipped to meet local needs. We Are Retail and IRMA are showcasing the retailers who make Illinois work.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Illinois orders 21 communities to remove forever chemicals from drinking water by 2029. Tribune…
- But many towns cannot afford the millions of dollars needed to upgrade their water systems with equipment to remove PFAS, and grants are limited. That means ratepayers could end up footing the bill. - Settlements from chemical manufacturers won’t cover half of Collinsville’s startup costs for the new PFAS-free water treatment system, [Michael Crawford, chief operator of Collinsville’s water department.], never mind the operating costs. * At 10:15 in Bradley, Gov. Pritzker will announce “one of the largest life sciences investments in Illinois History.” Click here to watch. * Tribune | Illinois 2026 GOP primary for governor features four candidates and one familiar face but big donors sit out: The result is a race between Bailey, Dabrowski, real estate developer and video gambling firm owner Rick Heidner and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick that is a largely low-key, low-budget affair as the candidates have been forced to seek out voters through GOP gatherings such as downstate Lincoln Day dinners and social media videos rather than television. * NWI Times | Economists question both Indiana and Illinois Bears stadium subsidies: “Neither of these proposals offer net benefits to taxpayers. I’d expect the Bears are nervous about leaving Illinois, so Illinois can offer a bit less than Indiana in subsidies,” Ball State University Economist Michael Hicks said. “If this were a serious negotiation, it would’ve seen more legislative scrutiny.” The economic benefit of building a stadium that would host home games eight or nine times a year would be short-lived, Hicks said. * Press release | Bernie Sanders endorses Karina Villa for Illinois Comptroller: State Senator Karina Villa is excited to announce that U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has endorsed her campaign for IL State Comptroller. Karina is the only candidate in this race who has taken on the Trump Administration and campaigned on a working people’s agenda that rejects austerity and demands that MAGA billionaires and millionaires pay their fair share. She represents the values and principles that Senator Sanders has popularized throughout the nation and in Illinois: that is why he has endorsed her as the proven progressive who will use the authority of the IL Comptroller’s office not just to keep the books but to fight for the fully resourced public goods and services working families in IL deserve. * The Daily Illini | Gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski discusses foreign enrollment, DEI, suing Champaign County: The DI: For the record, I’d like to note that I went ahead and I checked the numbers with Daniel Mann, who’s the University’s associate provost for enrollment management. He told me that the 37 students in the year 2000 only included undergraduates, while there are 6,231 students today including undergraduates, graduates and professional students. So in 2000, the total number of Chinese international students was actually 688, not 37. Does that change how you view this situation at all? […] Dabrowski: Right. Well no, it doesn’t. I mean obviously numbers matter and — if you know my work at Wirepoints, I’m pretty picky about getting those data points right. Right, so that only includes undergraduates. And graduate — we could have a different discussion about undergraduate and graduate. Not that that diminishes the whole discussion. But 600 to 6,000 it’s still — the point is, we could talk about the numbers, but the point is this.
* Sun-Times | Illinois lawmakers look to Colorado program that, for $6 a day, gets help for people who are mentally ill: Jennifer Turner, the executive director of Bridges of Colorado, says the program allows for creative solutions in a judicial environment that’s typically viewed as black-and-white. With Bridges liaisons in court, judges in Colorado can look out from the bench and see a prosecutor on one side, a defense lawyer on the other and also someone whose job is to present options to address a defendant’s mental illness as part of a sentence. * Tribune | South, southwest suburban legislators use campaign funds for legal fees: State Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, and Reps. Robert “Bob” Rita, D-Blue Island, and Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, used campaign finance funds to cover attorneys fees in various legal matters last year, campaign finance reports show. The most recent campaign reports, detailing expenses between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, shows Hastings’ political committee, Citizens for Michael E Hastings, spent about $78,000 on attorneys fees. * NBC Chicago | DHS detains US citizen from Evanston at O’Hare, releases her in Wisconsin after nearly 2 days: Naqvi was born in Evanston and raised in the Chicago suburbs. A few weeks ago, she was set to travel overseas for a work trip with five other people. That group included three U.S. citizens and three green card holders, all in the U.S. legally. […] At some point, the family said, they lost Naqvi’s location that was being shared from her phone. Relatives said federal agents continued to tell them that Naqvi was not in custody, despite her location previously showing her at the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. “The cops were lying to our faces,” said Sarah Afzal, Naqvi’s sister. “We were asking them, ‘Hey, her location is here. We were in contact with her,’ and they kept being like, ‘I don’t know what to tell you.’” * Sun-Times | Thousands gather to celebrate the life of Rev. Jesse Jackson at Chicago funeral: During an international tribute to Rev. Jackson in the Loop Thursday evening, former U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Ramirez recalled the work the civil rights leader did to free him and two other soldiers from captivity during the Kosovo War. It was toward the end of President Clinton’s second term in office. He, Staff Sgt. Christopher Stone and Spc. Steven Gonzales were ambushed and captured March 31, 1999, by Serbian soldiers while they were on a routine NATO observation patrol near the Macedonian-Yugoslav border. “During that time, we still didn’t know what was going on but ultimately felt like they were going to just kill us,” Ramirez told several international dignitaries during the event. * Crain’s | Small cities are a big part of the O’Hare expansion that alarmed the FAA: American accuses United of gaming the system, attempting to manipulate a relatively new provision of the lease agreement between the city and the carriers at O’Hare in which airlines are awarded gates used to load and unload passengers based on how much flying they did the previous year. United invoked the provision for the first time last year and won five new gates. American, which already had been increasing its schedule at O’Hare after a slow rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, lost four gates but is poised to win them back. * Sun-Times | Obama Presidential Center’s opening date set for Juneteenth on South Side: Scheduled to open to the public on the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery, the Obama Center includes a playground, green space, public art installations, a public forum and a Chicago Public Library branch. The campus connects to the Museum of Science and Industry as well as the Jackson Park lagoons. Most of it will be free, except for museum tickets. They’ll go on sale in May with pricing “in line with other Chicago cultural institutions,” foundation officials said. * Block Club | ‘Women Who Built Chicago’ Bus Tour Highlights History Of City’s Trailblazers: “The Women Who Built Chicago” tour will be open to the public March 21, 22 and 28 and feature important women in the city’s history like singer Dinah Washington; co-founder of the DuSable Museum of African American History Margaret Burroughs; entrepreneur, philanthropist and activist Madame C.J. Walker and more. * Daily Herald | Capital One to eliminate 1,139 jobs connected with former Discover facility in Riverwoods: The total includes 532 employees who work at the former Discover Financial facility, 2500 Lake-Cook Road. Sixty-nine employees are Illinois residents who work remotely and 538 are out-of-state residents who work remotely but ultimately report to Riverwoods-based teams, according to a Capital One spokesperson. Employees were notified Feb. 23. The first separations are expected to begin May 4 and the last on or about Oct. 1. The action covers 302 different job titles. * Daily Herald | DuPage sheriff’s hopeful vows to continue campaign amid investigation, administrative leave: DuPage County Undersheriff Eddie Moore pledged Sunday to continue his campaign for sheriff, despite an investigation into reports he struck someone with his car last month and left the scene without contacting police. In a roughly 90-second video posted to his campaign’s Facebook page, Moore blamed “political attacks” for the allegations of wrongdoing, and accused rivals of dragging his wife, Brandi, into the fray. * Crain’s | Amazon lines up 1 million-square-foot suburban warehouse deal with logistics firm: The McCook property is the largest Chicago-area lease signed by Crane, which also has a warehouse in northwest suburban Itasca. The firm last year announced multiple partnerships with Amazon, including switching Crane’s digital infrastructure to Amazon’s AWS platform and becoming the first major logistics provider to use Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite technology. Amazon last year completed a massive $11 billion data center project just west of South Bend, Ind., and in November announced plans to spend another $15 billion building data center campuses in northern Indiana, including near the Chicago area. * Tribune | Supporters of Cook County’s guaranteed income program hold meeting to help shape distribution: In its 2026 budget, Cook County set aside $7.5 million to extend the guaranteed income program beyond the pilot, making it one of the first local governments in the country to commit to ongoing funding. Officials are crafting updated rules around applications, eligibility and program design, with a final plan expected this year. Cook County’s Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot, which launched using $42 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, gave 3,250 low- to moderate-income families $500 a month in no-strings-attached cash — meaning no work requirements or spending restrictions — for two years. More than 200,000 people put their names in when it launched. Payments began in December 2022 and continued through January 2025. * Lake County News-Sun | Local Black Lives Matter founder resigning after viral fight video: ‘I take responsibility for my part’: * Tribune | $100 million Touhy Avenue improvement project breaks ground in Des Plaines: At nearly $100 million, it is the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways’ largest project to date, according to a release from the Cook County Board office, and aims to reduce congestion, improve safety and promote economic activity in the area. The project is slated for completion by the end of next year. * Evanston Now | Reparations panel mulls hemp tax: There is already an impending federal ban on hemp-THC products that was included in the spending bill President Donald Trump signed last November to end the government shut down. That ban is set to go into effect this November. […] Additionally, Ruggie noted in her memo that delta-8 products are generally cheap, and any tax revenues collected would “likely be relatively small,” and there would be an “inevitable” legal challenge to the tax. * Tribune | What has led to Northwestern’s success in women’s sports the last 20 years? ‘Winning can be contagious’: When it comes to women’s sports, the Wildcats have had a special run over the last 20 years, which also includes three NCAA quarterfinal finishes for the women’s tennis team under coach Claire Pollard. Individually, tennis players Cristelle Grier and Alexis Prousis won an NCAA doubles title in 2006, and platform diver Olivia Rosendahl won two NCAA championships in 2017-18. In the last five years, the team successes have been particularly notable as Northwestern has broken through for five national championships in three sports: field hockey, golf and lacrosse. * WGLT | McLean County Board to consider zoning changes related to potential AI data centers: With AI data center proposals already being debated in Central Illinois, including in Logan County and Pekin, some officials want to be ready if one finds its way to McLean County. The McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday unanimously recommended an amendment that will now move to the county board next week. It includes language on where data centers can be located, and what is required if one is proposed in the county. * WCIA | All officers, chief resign from Moweaqua Police Department: On Saturday, Shelby County Sheriff Brian McReynolds confirmed with WCIA that in addition to the Moweaqua Police Chief opting to leave the department, all of his officers have resigned. Village of Moweaqua Mayor Angela Locke previously told WCIA that Chief Christopher Hale resigned on Friday. This comes after multiple officers have left the department “over the last couple months,” Locke added. In the meantime, McReynolds added, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office will respond to calls for service in Moweaqua as they always have when no police department officer is on duty. McReynolds said there was no further information he could provide. * Capitol News Illinois | Carterville school employee placed on leave for sexual abuse over a year after FBI received tip: Sarah Barnstable, superintendent at Carterville Unit School District 5, said the Carterville Police Department had contacted the school at that time and notified school officials about an anonymous tip the FBI had received about a district employee. […] Barnstable said the district took action once it was notified last month by the sheriff’s office that investigators had opened a criminal investigation. The employee was immediately placed on administrative leave, she said. * BND | E. coli found in drinking water of metro-east city that floods with sewage: The findings contradict test results from the city’s two water providers — private company Illinois American Water and the city of Cahokia Heights — whose own sampling outside homes has not detected E. coli in treated drinking water, according to public records from the past 15 years. The difference between what residents are finding at their faucets and what utilities are reporting has intensified longstanding worries about water quality, public health and whether state and federal regulators are doing enough to protect the community. * WQAD | Several claiming leadership at the Rock Island County Republican Party found in contempt of court: The group voted in Patrick Peacock and filed paperwork with the Illinois State Board of Elections. They took control of the Facebook page, phone number, mail and bank account. Parchert filed for a temporary restraining order, but the judge told her to come back with an attorney. She raised money for legal counsel, then came back in February. The judge said she’d most likely win the case. “He issued an order of protection, a temporary order of protection, and they violated it,” Parchert said.
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Good morning!
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Monday, Mar 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…
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