* The New York Times…

Days before the primary race ends on Tuesday, Black political leaders in Chicago are growing more frustrated with the efforts to divide the state’s Black voters. “I’m sure that Raja is very happy from the fact that there are these two distinguished Black women who will split the Black vote to some degree,

Ms. Stratton’s supporters are openly angry at Ms. Kelly and the Congressional Black Caucus, which typically backs its own members seeking higher office. Caucus members have refused to back down in the face of claims that they are poised to hand a Senate seat to Mr . Krishnamoorthi. […]

Super PACs allied with Mr . Krishnamoorthi are certainly happy Ms. Kelly is in the race. The crypto industry, unhappy with Mr . Pritzker’s regulatory efforts as governor , has spent $8 million on ads slamming Ms. Stratton and elevating Ms. Kelly in an attempt to help Mr . Krishnamoorthi. […]

“It’s very hard to watch, ” said Willie Preston, a Democratic state senator who is the chairman of his chamber’s Black caucus. He has remained neutral in the Senate primary while running his own race to replace Ms. Kelly. “If it was not for this dark money coming in and the divide-and-conquer of the Black community, Raja wouldn’t be close. He’s benefiting from intentionally divided Black politics right now.”

* Fox Chicago…

The Chicago Board of Education president is targeting members of the media as an internal probe into alleged board “leakers” drags on.

On Wednesday, Fox Chicago reporter Paris Schutz received an email from the law firm Salvatore Prescott Porter and Porter saying:

“As you know, we are conducting an investigation involving the CPS Board of Education and communications with the media. We understand you have information relevant to our investigation. If you are willing to talk to us, we would appreciate scheduling time to speak with you.”

The inquiry revolves around the alleged “leaking” of information regarding a special public board of education meeting that was called in late December, where members voted to hike the Chicago Public Schools property tax levy by the maximum amount allowed under state law.

Multiple board sources told Fox Chicago that Harden threatened to “out” the leaker and “force their resignation,” although there is no evidence that the information was provided by any member of the Board of Education. Sources also say the law firm was brought in to probe a similar leak to a Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ reporter after that publication ran a story about the search process for a new superintendent.

* Stop the presses! Breaking news from the Prairie State Wire…

Illinois has two state lawmakers who have dyed their hair blue—more than any other state.

That’s according to an analysis of state lawmaker hairstyles by Prairie State Wire.

Illinois State Reps. Kelly Cassidy (D–Rogers Park) and Eva-Dina Delgado (D–Belmont Cragin), both of whom represent districts on Chicago’s North Side, dyed their hair blue for official state photos. […]

There are no lawmakers with dyed blue or purple hair in any Midwestern state, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Iowa, or Nebraska.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Legal Newsline | Court shoots down bid by IL judges to undo Tier 2 pension reforms: On March 5, a three-member panel of Illinois state appellate court justices turned aside the bid by Cook County Judge Natasha Toller and retired St. Clair County Judge Patricia Kievlan to overturn limitations on judges’ pensions enacted in Illinois’ so-called Tier 2 pension reform law. In the ruling, the appeals panel said the judges’ claims against the Tier 2 law fell short because they became judges after the law took effect, and can’t now try to escape the terms and limits in place when they essentially signed the contracts governing their pension benefits.

* Illinois Review | After Illinois Review Story, AM 560 Quietly Deletes Social Media Attacks on Conservative Gov. Candidate Darren Bailey: The criticism was not just about tone – it was about conflicts of interest. Two of the station’s most prominent hosts, Dan Proft and former state Rep. Jeanne Ives, are also senior political advisors to the gubernatorial campaign of Ted Dabrowski, Bailey’s opponent in the Republican primary. To many conservatives, that raised serious questions about whether AM 560 had allowed its media platform to be used as a political weapon.

* Center Square | With teachers union support, committee approves charter school mandates: State Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, told the Illinois Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday she has been working on Senate Bill 3391 for a couple of years. The Chicago Teachers Union supports the legislation. CTU Legislative Director Hilario Dominguez said Chicago Public Schools spent about $35 million stabilizing failed charter operators. “This legislation simply ensures that when organizations receive public funds to educate our children, they are accountable to the public,” Dominguez told the committee.

*** Chicago ***

* Bloomberg | City defers big slice of bond sale as Mideast conflict upends yields: Chicago put off the sale of about $292 million in tax-exempt bonds the city planned to sell this week as conflict in the Middle East rattles global markets. The debt was a part of an $800 million package that the city had scheduled to price on Tuesday, according to bond filings. Chicago proceeded to price the $511.9 million taxable general obligation bond portion of the deal. The tax-exempt bonds will price at an undetermined future date, Chicago Acting Chief Financial Officer Steven Mahr said in an email. The city currently expects to return to the market to sell general obligation bonds in the second and third quarters of 2026 but it may speed up or postpone those transactions based on factors including market conditions, he added.

* WBEZ | CPS should work to prevent future attendance drops due to immigration enforcement, community groups say: A coalition of community groups and a parent advocacy organization are urging Chicago Public Schools to take steps now to prevent attendance declines should there be another surge in federal immigration enforcement. Among the things they are asking for: More frequent updates about attendance trends and designated safe spaces where students and parents can retreat should they encounter a threat while going to or from school.

* ABC Chicago | Trump Tower in Chicago makes improvements after failing health inspection: In December, a health inspector cited the downtown Chicago hotel for six issues, including flies in the bar and dish areas, and improper storage of cold food. They were instructed to have all areas affected by pests checked out by an expert. The hotel later passed inspection on December 23rd.

* Block Club | How 7 Families Celebrate The South Side Irish Parade, From Breakfast With Politicos To A Backyard Mass: The breakfast usually brings in a number of politicians who are going to be in the parade. Gov. JB Pritzker, Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Sean Casten have all attended — as did Barack Obama years before he ran for president. Jack Kelly is a member of the parade committee, and Maureen Kelly said her family often jokes that the day is “better than Christmas.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* NBC Chicago | Suburban school district uses license plate readers to verify student residency: According to the school district, her daughter’s new student enrollment form was denied due to “license plate recognition software showing only Chicago addresses overnight” in July and August. In an email sent to Sánchez in August, the school district told her, “Although you are the owner on record of a house in our district boundaries, your license plate recognition shows that is not the place where you reside.” Sánchez is adamant she and her daughter have been steadily living in their home since moving in. As for the location of her car—she says she loaned it to a family member in Chicago last summer. Now it’s back in her driveway.

* Press release: Personal PAC, the Chicago Federation of Labor, Sierra Club Illinois, and ICIRR Action teamed up through their political organizations to run joint ads supporting Toni Preckwinkle ahead of the March 17 primary. This coalition, activated in the wake of Trump’s Inauguration, has also been a driving force behind the large-scale “No Kings” rallies and the Hands Off Chicago coalition. This group will continue to find ways to support one another and join together with other advocacy groups to protect Chicago, fight for our values, and support elected leaders who can deliver real progress.

* WTTW | Group of Cook County Leaders Seek Special Prosecutor, Claim Eileen O’Neill Burke ‘Abandoned’ Duties to Investigate ICE: That coalition, which includes more than 200 elected officials, community organizations, attorneys and religious leaders on Thursday filed a petition in Cook County court after they said State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke has failed to hold federal agents accountable. “Absent such (an) appointment, the message to federal agents operating in Cook County would remain clear: you may shoot unarmed civilians, assault journalists and clergy, brutalize protesters, and lie under oath with impunity,” the group wrote in its 55-page petition states.

* CBS Chicago | Ex-custodian accused of secretly filming students, staff in bathrooms at suburban middle school ordered held: Garcia-Espinal formerly worked at the Sunset Ridge School at 525 Sunset Ridge Rd., where, in 2020, he allegedly hid a video camera in a school bathroom and recorded students and staff without their knowledge or consent. Police said Garcia-Espinal fled the United States following the incident at the school. He spent the past six years on the run before he was arrested for a similar incident at a Los Angeles restaurant.

* CBS Chicago | 2 boys pulled from Lake County, Illinois, schools in separate child abuse cases raise questions about oversight: When a child is expelled from school, the Illinois State Board of Education is notified, but not necessarily when a child is pulled out by their parents. It raises questions about whether additional oversight should be put in place, but past legislative attempts have been met with significant pushback. A Fox Lake couple was arrested and charged Friday with physically abusing the woman’s 11-year-old son for years before he was able to make a daring escape for help. […] In both cases, investigators said the boys were removed from school by their parents after questions of abuse were raised.

* Daily Herald | St. Charles wants to revamp portions of downtown for improved traffic, cyclist flow: The city of St. Charles could undergo a significant transportation and safety upgrade in a section of the downtown experiencing surging numbers of commuters and bicyclists. To explore options, including streetscaping improvements, the city is seeking a $99,245 planning contract with Civiltech Engineering for the first phase of work in the southeastern portion of the downtown area.

* CBS Chicago | Ravinia Festival 2026 schedule features lineup with Paul Simon, Chance the Rapper and Ricky Martin: Paul Simon, Chance the Rapper, Ricky Martin, Brandi Carlile and Hugh Jackman are among this year’s artists performing in the redesigned Hunter Pavilion in Highland Park from June through September. This year’s lineup also features Miranda Lambert, Alabama Shakes, Rod Stewart and Ziggy Marley. The 2026 season includes over 50 artist debuts.

*** Downstate ***

* WGEM | Quincy City Council doesn’t plan on additional subsidy for public library as budget progresses: For years, the Quincy City Council approved a subsidy for the Quincy Public Library on top of the .15% they earn on city property taxes. This year, the subsidy is expected to stop. “Council has made it very clear that they do not want to subsidize the library or any outside entity,” Moore said. Last year’s initial budget was denied over what the council found to be an unrealistic proposed subsidy exceeding $400,000. Instead, they narrowly passed a budget which gave the library $350,000.

* The Southern | American Airlines presents bid for Veterans Airport service: As Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois continues reviewing options for the future of air service in the region, American Airlines presented its proposal Wednesday to replace the airport’s current carrier. Airport Manager Doug Kimmel said the airport is reviewing multiple proposals before submitting a recommendation to the U.S. Department of Transportation. “This is the best slate of air service proposals that we’ve had to review and to choose from,” Kimmel said.

* WMBD | Big Al’s could reopen as strip parlor and concert venue: Ty Seibert, a veteran owner and operator of Peoria nightclubs, hopes to soon revive the venue at 400 SW Jefferson Ave. The site has been dark since 2024, when the city revoked Big Al’s liquor license after multiple shootings at the club. Further, then-owner Kenneth Kummerow had to divest himself of the business, which would be transferred to a new owner subject to city approval – a prospect that still remains viable. Seibert, 53, has submitted a business plan to City Hall. Mayor Rita Ali, who also serves as the city’s liquor commission, declined to comment at length about his intentions.

*** National ***

* WIRED | How ‘Handala’ Became the Face of Iran’s Hacker Counterattacks: Even among American cybersecurity researchers who closely track state-sponsored hacking groups, Handala—which takes its name from the well-known Handala character in the political cartoons of Palestinian artist Naji al-Ali—has until now hardly achieved much notoriety. But those who have followed the group’s evolution, particularly in Israel’s cybersecurity industry, say the group is now widely believed to be a front for Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, or MOIS. They’ve seen the hackers become the most prominent player in a wave of Iranian state cyber operators who pose as hacktivists while seeking to inflict noisy, often politically motivated chaos on adversaries. Handala, or the same group operating under earlier names, has launched data-destroying and hack-and-leak operations for years against targets ranging from the Albanian government to Israeli businesses and political officials.

* Crain’s | With women’s sports primed for profitability, Ariel’s Project Level eyes its next deal: With two deals already under its belt, Ariel Investment’s Project Level is looking at the WNBA for its next investment, as the fund’s manager says the high-flying but undervalued league represents one of the best arbitrage opportunities in sports. “The fundamentals on what drives value in sports franchises are all up and to the right for women’s sports — sponsorships, ticket sales, viewership, quality of players,” said Jason Wright, a former Northwestern University and NFL football player who serves as the fund’s managing partner and head of investments.

* SJ-R | ‘Too many maybes’: Expert can’t be sure of source of Lincoln casket flag : An authority on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln said there may be holes in the story about an American flag that draped the casket of the 16th president from Springfield. Keens, a New York City steakhouse, recently purchased the flag for over half a million dollars and first displayed it publicly on the Lincoln’s birthday.