* Subscribers were told about this last week. Capitol News Illinois…

Twelve of 36 seats on the Illinois Democratic State Central Committee were contested in Tuesday’s primary election. As expected House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch secured a spot on the committee, which serves as the governing body for the Democratic Party of Illinois. At the same time, embattled state Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, lost his race. […]

14TH: It’s still a mystery as to why Benton was booted from the House Democratic caucus. He was unopposed in his primary for state representative. But in the one race he faced an opponent, he lost. Wheatland Township Supervisor Michael Crowner (25%) defeated Benton (23%) by just under 1,500 votes to secure a spot on the DSCC. Incumbent Christine Benson (51%) didn’t face an opponent.

* Sun-Times…

Cook County’s top prosecutor argued Tuesday that a bid to name a special prosecutor to investigate the federal agents behind last fall’s Operation Midway Blitz amounts to a “frivolous” and “heavy handed” attempt to usurp her authority — and could come at a cost. […]

The commentary came in a 24-page response to the high-profile bid for a special prosecutor, launched earlier this month by a coalition of more than 200 elected officials, clergy, journalists and attorneys. They say O’Neill Burke has turned a “blind eye” to myriad crimes committed by federal agents during the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation blitz last fall. […]

“Petitioners are claiming that the state’s attorney has an actual conflict because she is not abdicating her prosecutorial discretion to elected officials and the public or succumbing to political pressure,” she argued in her filing.

O’Neill Burke again pointed to a 2017 Illinois Supreme Court decision she says limits her ability to investigate the agents. But coalition attorney Steve Art insisted that every special prosecutor “takes on the role of an elected state’s attorney and investigates and prosecutes” a crime.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Insurance bill combining homeowners and auto regulation passes House, awaits Senate action: Those two proposals, which started as separate pieces of legislation, were combined into a single bill that passed the House March 19. The combined bill now awaits Senate approval before being sent to Gov. JB Pritzker. Pritzker initially called for rate review authority over homeowners insurance last summer after Bloomington-based State Farm Insurance announced it was raising rates in Illinois an average 27.2%, citing losses it had incurred from weather-related disasters in the state.

* Tribune | Gov. JB Pritzker acknowledges ‘real failures’ in immigration system after Loyola student killing: “This has been a terrible tragedy, and I know that the Gorman family has suffered mightily…There have been real failures. Those failures, of course, extend beyond the borders of Illinois. That’s — they’re national failures, a failure to have comprehensive immigration reform, a failure of the president to follow his own edict to go after the worst of the worst,” Pritzker said at an unrelated event, referencing that the Trump administration stepped up immigration enforcement efforts last year in Chicago and other cities where he vowed to seek deportations of noncitizens with criminal records who are in the country illegally. […] On Monday, Pritzker said he has reached out to “local officials” who have talked to Gorman’s parents “to express my condolences, my wife’s condolences as well” but said it’s not the right moment to speak with them as they grieve.

*** Chicago ***

* WTTW | CPD Officer Accused of Repeatedly Violating Rights of Black Chicagoans Suspended Again: Officer Richard Rodriguez Jr., who was a member of the Near North (18th) Police District tactical team until he was stripped of his police powers last month, was suspended for at least 30 days after improperly searching a Black man just after 10 p.m. Sept. 25, 2023, by ripping the man’s pants and exposing his underwear, according to documents published Friday by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. In all, Rodriguez has been suspended for at least 68 days in connection with seven incidents of misconduct, records show.

* Tribune | NBC Chicago downsizes in its namesake tower with new $70 million TV newsroom: “We have condensed our space, but it also feels like we’re in a bigger space,” Kevin Cross, 57, president and general manager of NBCUniversal Local Chicago, said during a recent tour of the new digs. “I think that’s a pretty cool thing to happen.” From a giant wall-to-wall video screen tracking weather, trending stories and reporter assignments to an illuminated ring orbiting an endless ticker above the center of the futuristic newsroom, NASA’s Mission Control doesn’t have much on the new NBC Chicago facilities. The downsized offices for NBC’s 200-plus employees also include studios with the latest in robotic cameramen, a game room, a lounge and panoramic views of Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River.

* Amtrak shifts Empire Builder onboard staffing to Chicago :KING5 | The Empire Builder rail service spans more than 2,200 miles, making it one of Amtrak’s iconic long-distance routes. King Street Station in Seattle serves as one of its anchors, a hub that hums with the steady rhythm of departing trains and boarding passengers. For crew members, the station has long been the center of their professional lives. In a statement, Olivia Irvin, a senior public relations manager for Amtrak, said the company is “streamlining onboard staffing on the Empire Builder to Chicago,” describing the consolidation as a measure designed to boost efficiency and strengthen long-distance service. Amtrak did not provide details on how many Seattle-based employees would be affected by the transition, nor did the company respond to requests about the timeline for the changes.

* Forbes | University Of Chicago Board Chair Gives The Institution $50 Million: David M. Rubenstein, Chair of the University of Chicago’s Board of Trustees, has given the institution $50 million, according to a university news release. The gift will be used to renovate and modernize Ida Noyes Hall, a well-known campus building constructed and opened in 1916, into a gathering place for students, visitors and the university community. In recognition of the donation, the new hub will be named the David M. Rubenstein Commons.

* Fox Chicago | Frank Thomas sues White Sox, retailers over jersey sales: Thomas filed the lawsuit March 19 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging violations of the Illinois Right of Publicity Act. The complaint claimed companies including Nike, Fanatics and the White Sox sold “City Connect 2.0″ jerseys featuring Thomas’ name and his No. 35 beginning in April 2025 without his consent or compensation. According to the filing, the jerseys were marketed and sold with team branding while using Thomas’ identity for commercial gain.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Recently resigned Harvey Clerk Rosa Arambula appointed as alderperson: Former Harvey City Clerk Rosa Arambula was appointed 1st Ward alderperson Monday, filling the role left vacant by acting Mayor Shirley Drewenski. “I cannot think of one other better person, and I’m honored to call Rosa Arambula 1st Ward alderman,” Drewenski said. Arambula resigned from her position as clerk at the beginning of the year without public comment or explanation, something 2nd Ward Ald. Colby Chapman drew attention to ahead of the appointment.

* Daily Southtown | Will County committee OKs 2,400-acre solar farm in Crete unincorporated area: While members of the public were largely against the project when it was presented to the Crete Village Board March 9, feedback was more mixed at last week’s more than four-hour long meeting in Joliet. Earthrise Energy, based in Arlington, Virginia, received preliminary approval for a special use permit that allows it to construct a solar farm that will span about 1,900 acres of unincorporated Will County. Crete already annexed about 200 acres along the village’s boundaries and plans to annex 620 more acres.

* Daily Herald | DuPage Forest Preserve executive director leaving for city manager job in Florida: Friling announced Tuesday that she is leaving the top administrative post to become the city manager of Sarasota, Florida. Friling was hired as the conservation agency’s executive director in 2021. She will remain with the district through May to help with the leadership transition. “Serving the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been an incredible honor,” Friling said in a statement. “I have truly enjoyed my time here and am grateful to work alongside such a dedicated and talented board and staff. The District is a very special place with an important mission, and I am confident its work will continue to thrive.”

* Daily Herald | Barrington-Area Robotics Team advances to world championship: With the win, Stealth Robotics has qualified for the FIRST Championship, an international robotics competition taking place in Houston this April. The event brings together thousands of students from around the world to compete and showcase their engineering and programming skills. In addition to success in competition, the team has made a significant impact in the community. This season, Stealth Robotics helped launch two new FIRST robotics teams, an all-girls FIRST Tech Challenge team and a new FIRST LEGO League team, expanding opportunities for more students to explore robotics and engineering.

*** Downstate ***

* WICS | Sangamon County opens domestic violence court to speed up cases, support victims: The court officially opened in May of last year. Since its inception, the court has seen about 150 felony cases and 350 misdemeanors. According to the Sangamon County state’s attorney, John Milhiser, out of the 150 felony cases, 65 have been resolved. “That’s one of the main goals of the domestic violence court,” Milhiser said. “To get these done faster, so we can help the victim and also help the offender. Get them treatment if they have substance abuse issues or whatever else is going on in their life, get them the help they need.”

* WGLT | Bloomington Police unveils plans for $550K federal grant updating real-time crime data center: U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap, helped secure the $556,900 grant as part of a $19 million investment in community projects and infrastructure across his Central Illinois district that includes parts of Bloomington-Normal. LaHood toured the facility Monday morning and met with law enforcement and community leaders for a ceremonial check signing at the Bloomington Police Department [BPD].

* 25News Now | ‘Close, but likely not enough’: Peoria school board hopeful congratulates apparent winner: Doug Shannon posted a statement on his campaign’s Facebook page that his bid for a seat on the Peoria Public Schools’ Board of Education was “close, but likely not enough.” Monday, the Peoria County Election Commission said opponent Sarah Howard had a lead of 86 votes over Shannon in District 3, with an updated count of mail-in ballots expected on Tuesday. On election night, Howard’s lead was just 44 votes. Howard currently has 3,117 votes to Shannon’s 3,031.

* WSIL | Crews continue prescribed burns at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge: Fire management teams have been conducting prescribed burns in the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge throughout the month of March. These controlled fires restore ecosystems, support wildlife, reduce wildfire risk and manage vegetation. Crews were seen on Monday south of Highway 13 in Williamson County, burning sections between S. Greenbriar Road and S. Division Street.

* 25News Now | French Canyon access at Starved Rock closed for improvement project: Closures include the trailhead access to the top of French Canyon, the trails from the Starved Rock Lodge parking lot, and the trail leading to French Canyon from behind the visitor center. That includes parts of Brown Bluff and Campanula Trails. IDNR added that other existing closures include Tonti Canyon and Tonti Bridge, the trail from LaSalle Canyon to Tonti Canyon, and the staircase from the west entrance to the boat ramp area.

*** National ***

* Bloomberg | JPMorgan sees ‘national security risk’ in old grid networks: All of that adds up to “major tailwinds for grid investments,” Sarah Kapnick, author of the report and JPMorgan’s global head of climate advisory, said in an interview. It’s “a massive investment opportunity,” she said. On the one hand there’s artificial intelligence, electrification and the re-industrialization of developed nations, which on their own account for “massive growth in electricity demand,” Kapnick said.

* The Hill | Delta suspends special congressional services amid shutdown: Among the services being suspended are airport escorts and so-called “red coat” services. The Capital Desk, a reservations line, will remain open. The decision, first reported by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, comes days after the Senate unanimously approved a proposal to end the preferential treatment lawmakers receive at airports, including allowing them to skip the line at security checkpoints.