* ICYMI: Chicago aiming for a repeat as its named a finalist to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention. Tribune…

- The Democratic National Committee said Monday that Chicago is a finalist to host the Aug. 7-10, 2028, event along with Atlanta, Boston, Denver and Philadelphia.
- Chicago and the other finalist cities will now get a visit from the party’s national leadership this spring.
- In addition to submitting a bid for the 2028 Democratic convention, the city also submitted one for the 2032 event.

* At 10 am, the governor will be in Chicago to “highlight a landmark accomplishment in medical debt forgiveness for Cook County residents.” Watch live here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Fox Chicago | Data centers spark debate across Chicagoland: ‘It was like there was a helicopter on our roof’: “Cyrus had to run their generators three days in a row, 24 hours. It was nonstop noise. And so, that’s when everybody’s like, so that’s what you’re talking about,” Evans said. “It was like there was a helicopter on our roof. It was just so noisy. You couldn’t go outside without hearing it. You could hear it in the house.” Cyrus’s web page outlines the company’s efforts for nearly the last year to not only fix the transformer, but also manage the noise coming from the data center’s generators and chillers by installing different noise walls and other noise-reducing features. It says those extra features are something they are still working on.

* Crain’s | Trump administration drops fight over executive order targeting Jenner & Block: The federal government today notified the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit it is dropping its appeal of the rulings blocking the orders against the firms, which also include WilmerHale, Perkins Coie and Susman Godfrey. The filing did not give a reason. “This chapter has once again confirmed what has been true of Jenner for more than a century: we will always zealously advocate for our clients and put them first, without compromise,” Jenner said in a statement. “Our partnership is proud to have stood firm on behalf of its clients, and we look forward to continuing to serve them — guided by these bedrock values — for many decades to come.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Gov. JB Pritzker is out with another ad..

According to the press release, the ad will air on Chicago broadcast, cable television and digital platforms.

* CBS Chicago | As election season ramps up, so do political text messages and emails. How to protect against spam: The Center for Campaign Innovation polling found 67% of voters received text messages, 56% of voters said they received emails, 34% found these campaign messages “excessive” or “overkill,” and 21% reported feeling “annoyed, irritated, or frustrated.” Even so, campaigns are exempt from certain consumer protection laws because of the First Amendment, but there are ways to protect your inbox. “It starts with being careful about who you give your email and phone number to,” Wilson said.

* Center Square | Illinois diversity commissioner did not properly disclose $23K side job: Rivera did not respond to repeated requests from The Center Square to explain why the work was partially omitted on her disclosures. She also fled a commission meeting when The Center Square tried to question her about the commission’s work last month. The disclosure forms warn that those who knowingly file a false or incomplete report might be subject to fines of up to $2,500 and imprisonment of up to one year.

* WSIL | IDPH releases first-ever carbon monoxide surveillance report: In 2024 alone, Illinois fire departments responded to 9,860 CO-related calls statewide. Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow emphasized the importance of prevention measures. “Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives. Regularly testing your alarms, checking expiration dates, and replacing units that are broken or outdated is your strongest line of defense against accidental carbon monoxide poisoning or worse,” Pankow said. On average each year, CO exposures resulted in 940 emergency department visits, 126 hospitalizations, and nearly 57 deaths. While most incidents occur during the colder months of October through March, CO exposures can happen any time of the year.

* IDHS | State of Illinois Recognizes March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month : To raise awareness and honor individuals in recovery, participating buildings in downtown Chicago will be lit teal during March. A statewide art contest will also spotlight the power of recovery, and IDHS will partner with providers across the state to promote treatment services. “Recovery is possible, and no one has to face a gambling disorder alone,” said Dulce M. Quintero, Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services. “Our goal is to ensure every person in Illinois knows that confidential support and treatment are available when they’re ready to seek help.”

*** Chicago ***

* NBC Chicago | Brandon Johnson says Chicago Bears should still consider city for new stadium: He echoed those calls again this week as he pushes for the team to take the possibility of staying within Chicago city limits seriously. “We had an entire press conference, with a proposal on the lakefront two years ago,” he said. “How do you have an entire proposal with the Bears, with the city of Chicago, with labor, with the notion that somehow the greatest, the most fruitful, economic viable prime real estate anywhere in the state, anywhere in the region is somehow not suited for world affairs?”

* NBC Chicago | Chicago Fire stadium at ‘The 78′ faces opposition ahead of groundbreaking: On Monday, a group of concerned residents spoke out about the stadium, arguing that more community input is needed before the project proceeds. “Members of this coalition were not invited to the groundbreaking. They certainly heard from us about the importance of including community voices,” said Grace Chan McKibben, Executive Director of Coalition for a Better Chinese-American Community. Activists say the project has plenty of appeal to developers, but community members have felt their concerns haven’t been listened to.

* CBS Chicago | Disabled Army veteran denied bathroom access at Chicago’s Real ID Super Site: “This is a medical emergency. My PTSD is accompanied by certain physiological issues … issues with the prostate and my bladder,” he said. After explaining to three different people at the Super Site his medical condition, they all refused. They insisted the location doesn’t have a public restroom. Fernandez said it was only after he threatened to file a disability claim that they finally let him behind the counter to an employee restroom, but it was too late. “At that point, I had already had an accident. So, not only was I denied access to the facility three times, I was denied humility and dignity,” Fernandez said.

* Sun-Times | South Chicago residents, businesses form coalition supporting Illinois’ quantum computing campus: Jorge Perez, owner of Chico’s Oven in South Chicago, said the coalition sprang from a desire to ensure “the authentic voice of Southeast Chicago residents” is involved in the quantum park project and the entire 400-acre Quantum Shore development. The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park makes up a portion of the massive Quantum Shore development, which will include a 52-bed Advocate Health Care hospital. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Perez said. “We’re actually at the beginning of a new era, and we believe it holds a lot of wonderful opportunities for us and for our families.”

* Sun-Times | Chicago police officer faces firing for shooting 13-year-old boy after mistaking cellphone for gun: It’s the second time the Civilian Office of Police Accountability has pushed to fire Officer Noah Ball over an on-duty shooting. In the earlier case, Ball was given a one-day suspension after Supt. Larry Snelling fought COPA’s recommendation while the second investigation was well underway. Ball encountered the teenager late May 18, 2022, when the boy hopped out of a car wanted in a carjacking and kidnapping and ran from pursuing officers, COPA said in a report released last week. When the boy reached a gas station in the 800 block of North Cicero Avenue, he turned and appeared to raise both hands, COPA said. Another officer pointed a gun at the boy, but didn’t fire because he didn’t have a “clear visual” of his hands.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* WGN | Cook County Assessor responds to criticism ahead of primary: On Monday, Kaegi joined Political Editor Tahman Bradley on The Point to discuss his record, his plans for the future, and address criticism he’s facing for rising property tax bills. Kaegi called many of those criticisms false attacks coming from his opponent and his donors. He also laid out his plan to fix what many are calling a flawed property tax system in Cook County.

* Legal Newsline | Judge orders Dolton to raise taxes, fees to pay $33.5M verdict over cop chase: On Feb. 20, Cook County Circuit Judge William B. Sullivan issued an order enforcing a jury verdict, declaring the village of Dolton “has no higher duty than to pay” the amount to the families of John Christopher Kyles and Duane Dunlap.
In the order, the judge further directed Dolton village officials to come up with a plan by April 20 to pay the sum, whether that means borrowing the money or raising taxes or fees on village residents and businesses.

* CBS Chicago | Couples say DCFS wrongfully took their newborns over false allegations: The Rays said it all stemmed from a DCFS hotline call six years ago when their older children were removed from their home to investigate an allegation. They wanted a hearing, but their public defender told them they needed to agree to a “stipulation,” meaning accept certain facts and findings as true without requiring the state to prove them or risk losing their children permanently. “We didn’t find out until years later that stipulating our rights meant pleading guilty, and we were never guilty of anything,” Mykel said.

* Daily Herald | Arlington Heights first in Illinois to add financial penalties for police camera data misuse: The unanimous vote Monday night came after trustees in December and February sought more answers about how the network of 35 fixed cameras around town works, then asked police department brass to put teeth into the two Flock agreements before they’d agree to re-up for two more years. “The Arlington Heights Police Department over many, many years has developed a lot of trust in the community,” said Trustee Wendy Dunnington, who made the original request for contract penalties. “It’s just really important that by us working with Flock Safety that we don’t ruin that trust.”

* Daily Herald | With disciplinary hearing looming, suspended Elgin police officer granted disability by pension board: An Elgin police officer on administrative leave and set to face a disciplinary hearing has qualified for a disability pension that he applied for on the day of his suspension. Officer Jason Lentz was placed on leave Oct. 16, 2025, following comments he made the previous day on Facebook that suggested places where immigration agents could find undocumented immigrants, tagging the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the end of the post. […] The Elgin Police Pension Board held a hearing on Lentz’s disability application on Feb. 24 and determined that he qualified for a disability pension following medical evaluations conducted by three physicians selected by the board.

* Sun-Times | Amazon rolling out drone delivery service in Chicago suburbs: The retailer said Monday that it would bring its Amazon Prime Air service to Matteson and Markham this summer, with deliveries taking as little as two hours. The program is already in action in five other states; Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Michigan and Texas. The service first launched in Texas in 2022. Fifteen drones, each weighing 80 pounds, will be stationed at each fulfillment center in Matteson and Markham. The addition of Prime Air will result in a net increase of 100 jobs, adding to the 6,000 total employees at both locations.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Operations suspended for Logan Co. fire, EMS department: Chestnut’s Fire and EMS services are shutting down in Logan County. But, this wasn’t a decision the township got to make for themselves — the Mt. Pulaski Rural Fire Protection District Board chose this. The president, Crystal Kern, said that Mt. Pulaski will respond to emergency calls in Chestnut. The people living there don’t feel like it will be enough. “Everybody was a little upset. Nobody really wanted to say anything though, but it’s time somebody has to speak up because we can’t lose it. It’s that simple,” Hegland said. “It’s like we’re getting swept under the rug.”

* WGLT | Normal welcomes new transit provider to Uptown Station: The council authorized a facility use agreement with FlixBus to start serving bus customers at Uptown Station. The town charges a license fee of $270 per month and a fee of $375 for ticketing of those services, through Heartland Parking. FlixBus joins Peoria Charter, Greyhound and Jefferson Lines as roadway transit providers at the station. Normal will be among a number of different Illinois locations served by FlixBus, which covers routes across the continental United States. It already serves Peoria, Champaign and Bloomington.

* Rock River Current | Rockford expands Flock license-plate readers and cameras amid increased scrutiny: Aldermen voted 13-1 to approve a roughly $444,000 four-year contract with Atlanta-based Flock Safety, which the city has contracted with for approximately three years. Alderwoman Gina Meeks, who expressed several concerns over the protection of data and its potential misuse, was the lone no vote. The vote came after nearly an hour and 45 minutes of discussion in the more than four-hour meeting, which saw several audience members escorted out by police after interrupting aldermen to push back against the cameras.

* WMBD | Illinois Central College narrows search to 3 presidential finalists: All will have a visit to the campus within the next few weeks for interviews and to participate in a public forum, providing the community an opportunity to meet with the finalists and offer their thoughts. Each finalist will participate in a public forum from 4 to 5 p.m. when they are on campus. That will be held in Room 212 on the East Peoria Campus.

*** National ***

* AP Press Release | AP to provide Kalshi its gold standard elections data ahead of primaries: “This collaboration will further Kalshi’s goal of being the premier destination to experience elections, combining AP’s trusted vote results with our transparent, market-based forecasts, creating a more complete picture of election night,” said Jaron Zhou, Kalshi’s Head of Politics. “Kalshi’s election forecasts help campaigns and everyday citizens track market expectations for election outcomes, and integrating AP’s live vote count data enhances Kalshi’s election night experience by bringing together real-time vote tallies and market activity.”