* Here you go…

* NBC | ‘Blue wall’ Democrats urge the White House to give Chicago the 2024 DNC convention: A band of governors, members of Congress and mayors from Illinois to Minnesota to Kentucky signed a letter Wednesday that was first made available to NBC News, calling on both the White House and Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison to choose Chicago.

* Sun-Times | A quarter of a century after Giannoulias was carjacked, new SOS doles out $21 million in grants to fight current surge: Chicago carjacking reports hit an apex of 1,849 in 2021. The Illinois secretary of state said it’s also personal for him, after being carjacked with high school basketball teammates in 1998. “It leaves a scar you never forget,” he said. “I hate the thought of anyone else going through that.”

* Daily Herald | Des Plaines District 62 board member says schools shouldn’t celebrate Columbus Day: “In our district, no way in hell is it going to be called Columbus Day again,” Tina Garrett said during a joint video interview with other candidates and the Daily Herald. “Not happening.”

* Sun-Times | Defense tries to flip the script in ComEd bribery trial, casting corruption charges as ‘classic, honest, legal lobbying’: Defense attorneys did not get a chance to cross-examine O’Neill until Wednesday, though. Once they did, they tried to offer jurors a different perspective that revolved around “classic, honest, legal lobbying,” a multi-year campaign to pass legislation, and personal connections.

* SJ-R | Illinois House passes more than 100 bills including book ban policy for public libraries: On its 52-page agenda were 205 bills listed in third reading – the last hurdle a bill has to clear to make it to the Senate for debate. A total of 101 passed with 41 bills passing on Tuesday.

* Chalkbeat | Chicago schools poised to vote on keeping police on campuses: There are 59 police officers stationed across 40 Chicago Public Schools. Each school will convene a safety committee of administrators, staff, parents, and students before Local School Councils vote by June 2, Chou said.

* WAND | Construction to begin on center for youth in custody in Lincoln: The new center, which was originally announced in February of 2021, will be located at the site of the former Lincoln Developmental Center. Two cottages for housing youth will be renovated with additional cottages for programming and administrative use. A new 27,000 square foot building will serve educational, recreational, and dietary needs.

* WTVO | Illinois organization helping adults become teachers, but they need the state’s help: The Illinois Golden Apple Foundation has two programs that help people become teachers, but the group said that it needs state money to get those programs to grow.

* Northwest Herald | Legislative action doesn’t always represent the finish line: Some actions, while technically laws, generally stipulate how government operates itself. Often this involves creating a task force responsible for producing a study and perhaps recommendations for further action. It’s impossible to complete the journey without the initial steps, but we don’t celebrate everyone who simply starts the marathon. There are too many examples of task forces that missed reporting deadlines or generated proposals with no chance of passage.

* Tribune | Chicago Sky’s Elizabeth Williams joins earthquake relief effort with her Turkish club: ‘It’s just so close to home’: The disaster elicited an immediate flood of concerned calls and messages from friends and family worried for Williams’ safety. Updates from teammates in Turkey quickly followed with more stark news: The death toll included Turkish basketball player Nilay Aydoğan, who played for Çankaya Üniversitesi.

* AP | Musicians fight threat of Tennessee anti-LGBTQ, drag bills: Love Rising, a concert held on Monday in Nashville, featured Grammy-winning artists like Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, Maren Morris, Hayley Williams and Brittany Howard alongside drag performers and trans and queer singer-songwriters. The following night, the effort continued with a second show, We Will Always Be, featuring a showcase of LGBTQ artists in collaboration with Black Opry.

* CNN | DeSantis administration moves to extend prohibition on teaching sexual orientation and gender identity to all grades: The Florida Department of Education approved the proposed rule on March 9 and it was published in the Florida Administrative Register for review on March 16. The State Board of Education is scheduled to take it up on April 19.

* Crain’s | United to start air-taxi service to O’Hare in 2025: United is partnering with Archer Aviation, a maker of electric vertical takeoff and landing craft, to provide the service from Vertiport Chicago, a helipad at the Chicago Medical District campus just west of downtown. Pricing details weren’t announced, but United executives have previously said the cost will be similar to Uber’s Black Car service, or about $100 to $150 at rush hour.

* The Atlantic | How Ivermectin Became a Belief System: Since fall 2021, Daniel Lemoi has been a central figure in the online community dedicated to experimental use of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin. “You guys all know I’m not a doctor,” he often reminded them. “I’m a guy that grew up on a farm. I ran equipment all my life. I live on a dirt road and I drive an old truck—a 30-year-old truck. I’m just one of you.” Lemoi’s folksy Rhode Island accent, his avowed regular-guy-ness, and his refusal to take any money in exchange for his advice made him into an alt-wellness influencer and a personal hero for those who followed him. He joked about his tell-it-like-it-is style and liberal use of curse words: “If you don’t like my mouth, go pray to God, because he’s the one that chose me for this mission.”