* From a reader: “The mayor’s race up here in Bloomington is getting fun to watch. Cody Hendricks has now done 3 negative Dan Brady/Trump pieces”…

* NBC Chicago…

As President Donald Trump penned an executive order dismembering the U.S. Department of Education, two different scenes were playing out in Chicago.

The national president of the American Federation of Teachers angrily pledged to take the Trump administration to court-suing for Thursday’s breakup of the Education Department.

But as the union leader spoke, the drastic White House move was visibly underway in Chicago. On the 37th floor of the Kluczynski Federal Building, work at the Office for Civil Rights was winding down. NBC Chicago found a shredding bin parked outside the main door and rolling trash containers at the ready for a Friday final day.

NBC 5 Investigates also found more than 900 civil rights complaints concerning school districts, colleges and universities throughout Illinois and five other midwestern states currently listed as “active investigations” underway.

Those complaints represent scores of allegations of racial and sexual harassment, sexual violence, disability and age discrimination.

* Press release…

Over-the-year, the unemployment rate decreased in eleven metro areas and increased in one for the year ending January 2025, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in six metropolitan areas, decreased in five, and was unchanged in one. […]

The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Elgin Metro Division (+2.2%, +6,200), the Peoria MSA (+1.8%, +3,000), and the Rockford MSA (+1.5%, +2,200). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division were up +19,000 (+0.5%). The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Illinois section of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-1.1%, -1,000), the Champaign-Urbana MSA (-1.0%, -1,200), and the Decatur MSA (-0.6%, -300). Total nonfarm jobs were unchanged in the Bloomington MSA. Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the twelve metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (eleven areas); Government (nine areas); and Mining and Construction and Retail Trade (seven areas each).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Rockford MSA (-1.3 points to 5.8%), the Kankakee MSA (-1.2 points to 6.3%), and the Lake County Metro (-1.1 points to 5.5%). The Chicago Metro Division reported the only increase (+0.3 point to 5.0%).

*** Statewide ***

* Sun-Times | Military chaplains’ child sex abuse records elusive, as Catholic church turns its back on transparency: Roughly 140 Catholic clerics credibly accused of molesting children have served as military chaplains over the years — including 10 priests who also ministered in Illinois and, altogether, may be responsible for sexually abusing more than 50 kids, according to a Chicago Sun-Times analysis. But you wouldn’t know that from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, the arm of the Catholic church for the U.S. Armed Forces, Veterans Affairs hospitals and federal employees serving outside the country.

* WTTW | New Rules for Asthma Treatment Pit Insurer Against Some Patients, Providers in Illinois: Starting in April, BCBSIL plans to change its coverage to require pre-approval for in-person administration of four biologic medications for asthma, used to aid patients who don’t respond to the more common treatment via inhalers. Those biologics — sold under the brand names Fasenra, Nucala, Tezspire and Xolair — are delivered either intravenously or injected into the skin, similar to an insulin jab. Many patients are treated with those medications in a health care setting, with providers saying there are several crucial reasons an in-person treatment can be necessary to keep patients safe and healthy. Now, BCBSIL plans to mandate all patients taking those drugs self-administer at home — unless they get prior approval from the insurance giant.

* WSIL | Illinois Secretary of State offers summer jobs : The Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office is now looking for applicants for their third-annual summer job program. 150 positions are available across the state. These are for positions for those in colleges, trade schools, graduate school students or high school students who are enrolled in college or a trade school in the fall.

* WCIA | Hunters Feeding Illinois donates nearly 100k meals to food pantries across the state: The University of Illinois says one out of 10 people in the state struggle with hunger. Hunters in the state are helping fight back one deer at a time.“We’re very grateful for the hunters,” said SNAP educator Michelle Fombelle. […] “We did receive 24,278 pounds of ground venison. And then that translated into 96,856 meals,” said SNAP educator Meredith Probst.

* WSIL | IDOT introduces campaign to help reduce littering: IDOT officials took to Facebook to introduce the campaign after crews cleaned trash off several roadways in Springfield. In total, officials say crews picked up 76 bags of trash. IDOT says that litter on roadways isn’t just bad to look at; it also costs Illinoisans millions of dollars each year to clean up.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Chicago cops have been making fewer traffic stops, but more are ending in violence: Officers reported using force 787 times during traffic stops — the most since 2018, which was the first full year cops were subjected to tougher reporting requirements. Meanwhile, more than 200,000 stops apparently went unreported to state officials last year despite a 2003 law that was spearheaded by then-state Sen. Barack Obama.

* Crain’s | Insurers are fleeing California. This Chicago upstart is running toward the fire: Kin Insurance sees its future in parts of the U.S. its older, bigger rivals are trying to put in their past. The Chicago-based startup is entering the California home market even as stalwarts like State Farm and Allstate look to retreat from the highly regulated state after facing billions of dollars in losses related to the recent wildfires that decimated parts of Los Angeles. “I actually want to be in the higher-volatility area,” Sean Harper, Kin’s chief executive officer, told Crain’s in an interview. “These people, they actually really, really need a new solution. As an entrepreneur, that is what fires me up . . . providing something customers really need.”

* Injustice Watch | Answers to Chicago renters’ common questions: Injustice Watch wrapped up its workshop series Know Your Building, Know Your Landlord last month, with nearly 100 people attending to learn how to find building code violations and research who owns their building. […] Because many tenants asked the same questions during The Tenant Trap workshops, Injustice Watch compiled this explainer to answer them. Michelle Gilbert, the legal and policy director for the Law Center for Better Housing and a housing attorney with more than 30 years of experience, agreed to help. Our questions and her answers have been edited for clarity and brevity. Gilbert’s responses are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.

* CBS Chicago | With long COVID health risks, Chicago organizations create safe spaces, events for vulnerable communities: Chicago’s Clean Air Club was the first organization in the U.S. to create a rental system to distribute free air purifiers to artists, touring musicians and organizers. Using their model, there are now over 32 “clean air” organizations across the country and in Australia. Other groups like Collective Air and Chicago Mask Bloc distribute free masks and rapid tests. Many of these groups also collaborate with event planners, venues, vendors and organizers.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Workers picket Nestle plant in Schaumburg, call for boycott of DiGiorno Pizza products: Approximately 200 self-described longtime Latino workers at the Nestle-owned Nation Pizza and Foods facility in Schaumburg picketed Friday morning for what they called a racially-motivated effort to trim that workforce through the use of a new eligibility requirement. They said with Nestle’s purchase of Nation Food and Pizza just over a year ago, temporary workers — including those with many years on the job — have been asked to re-verify their work status with the E-Verify I-9 Form.

* Daily Southtown | Ford Heights mayoral candidates say water bills, property taxes are top issues in April 1 election: As Ford Heights works to recover from its previous mayor’s embezzlement conviction and resignation, five candidates are working to become the impoverished village’s next elected leader. They include interim Mayor Freddie Wilson, who was appointed after Charles Griffin was forced to step down from his post in September, and Annie Coulter, who was mayor from 2017 to 2021, in between Griffin’s two terms. Longtime Trustee Antonia McMichaels and former Trustees LaDell Jones and Scottie Hatten are also running. Jones and Coulter told the Daily Southtown they hope to address high water bills, property tax woes and lack of economic opportunities in the village of fewer than 2,000 people. Wilson declined to be interviewed about his campaign and goals for a full term, and Hatten and McMichaels could not be reached.

* Tribune | Director’s firing a year ago still resonates in Oak Park Library Board race: The controversial firing last year of Oak Park Public Library Director Joslyn Bowling Dixon is reverberating in this year’s Library Board race. There are eight candidates competing for four seats on the Library Board in the April 1 election. Three of the candidates, Bruce Brigell, Megan Butman, and Daniel Suber, are running largely because they are angry about Dixon’s termination and believe it illustrated deeper problems with the board. “It just seemed a rash decision without due process in our view and left the community kind of aghast,” Brigell said in a telephone interview.

* Shaw Local | Fox Valley Brass Band to perform with Illinois Brass Band March 30: Fox Valley Brass Band will perform with Illinois Brass Band at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 30 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora. Victor Anderson will direct the Fox Valley band. Scheduled numbers are “Proclamation” by Tom Davoren, “Hymn for Diana” by James Curnow, a memorial to late Princess Diana, “Esprit” by James Curnow and “Lincoln Posy” by Percy Aldridge Grainger, which is a musical portrait of six folk tunes sung by folksingers during his 1905-1906 trip to Lincolnshire, England. Steven Squires will direct.

*** Downstate ***

* WTOL | Stellantis offering buyout packages to some factory employees in Toledo: Stellantis says it is offering packages for both voluntary termination of employment and retirement incentive for some employees across facilities in Toledo, Detroit and Illinois. According to the company, the packages are available for eligible United Auto Workers hourly non-skilled bargaining unit employees at its manufacturing and Mopar facilities in Toledo and Detroit, including the Toledo Assembly Complex and Toledo Machining Plant.

* KFVS | Poplar Bluff schools to remain closed until March 31: According to school leaders, classes will resume on Monday, March 31. They say the extra week will help crews clear remaining debris from the campus and find temporary roofing, as well as restore utilities. The school district will also need to relocate classrooms and resources and reroute buses.

* WGLT | How Bloomington’s mayoral hopefuls see the city’s budget outlook: Incumbent Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe said in an interview it’s important to note that Bloomington’s budget increases are largely a byproduct of increased spending on capital projects. […] “The biggest area is personnel. What can we do? What agencies can we look at that are able to be merged? What type of a delay of major capital equipment for the city could be an aspect of things? How do we tighten those belts before we talk about asking the taxpayers for more?” [Dan Brady] said, adding the city could explore offering early retirement incentives to employees.

* WCIA | Meet Tiffany, the Fighting Illini superfan who brings heart and passion to Illinois sports: As the Fighting Illini softball team opened Big Ten play for the 2025 season, the staff behind the program asked a special fan to perform the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Standing between the pitcher’s circle and home plate, Tiffany Hand wound her arm back and threw the ball at senior catcher Paige Berkmeyer. As the audience cheered, Berkmeyer gloved the ball and walked out to greet Tiffany, who immediately gave the catcher a big hug.

*** National ***

* Politico | Trump wants adverse rulings overturned ASAP. Appeals courts are taking their time.: The Trump administration is pleading with a federal appeals court to quickly reverse a judge’s directive blocking President Donald Trump’s ability to deport Venezuelan nationals under rarely used wartime powers. The response from the appeals court judges? Meh.

* AP | Facing anti-DEI investigations, colleges cut ties with nonprofit targeted by conservatives: Public reaction from the universities’ leadership has been minimal and cautious, with most issuing brief statements saying they will cooperate with investigators and refusing further comment. Colleges may see reason not to push back. The Trump administration has shown willingness to withhold federal funding over issues involving antisemitism allegations, diversity programs and transgender athletes. At Columbia University, under fire for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests, the administration pulled $400 million in federal money and threatened billions more if it does not comply with its demands.

* Politico | We Dug Into the Polls. Democrats in Congress Should Be Very Afraid: Just 40 percent of Democrats approve of the job performance of congressional Democrats, compared to 49 percent who disapprove. That’s a dramatic change from this time last year, when 75 percent of Democrats approved compared to just 21 percent who disapproved. The Democratic base’s disillusionment runs so deep that it’s eerily reminiscent of Republican grassroots sentiment in the period leading up to Donald Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party.  The numbers are clear: No longer satisfied with the status quo in their party, Democrats are on the verge of a Tea Party-style, intra-party revolt.

* NYT | Food Banks Left in the Lurch as U.S.D.A. Shipments Are Suspended: Food banks across the country are scrambling to make up a $500 million budget shortfall after the Trump administration froze funds for hundreds of shipments of produce, poultry and other items that states had planned to distribute to needy residents. The Biden administration had slated the aid for distribution to food banks during the 2025 fiscal year through the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which is run by the Agriculture Department and backed by a federal fund known as the Commodity Credit Corporation. But in recent weeks, many food banks learned that the shipments they had expected to receive this spring had been suspended.