Illinois 2026 GOP primary for governor features four candidates and one familiar face but big donors sit out The Republican primary for governor four years ago was impossible to miss with massive spending and six candidates. This year, apart from candidate Darren Bailey, almost nothing is the same.

The Republican primary for governor four years ago was impossible to miss with massive spending and six candidates. This year, apart from candidate Darren Bailey, almost nothing is the same.

Jacqueline Jackson walks behind the casket of her husband, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, as their sons Jesse Jackson Jr., left, and U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, right, walk as pallbearers after Jesse Jackson's funeral service at Rainbow PUSH Coalition Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Jacqueline Jackson walks behind the casket of her husband, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, as their sons Jesse Jackson Jr., left, and U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, right, walk as pallbearers after Jesse Jackson's funeral service at Rainbow PUSH Coalition Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Ken Abrom holds programs for the funeral of the Rev. Jesse Jackson after attending the hours-long service at Rainbow PUSH Coalition Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Yusef Jackson, center, hugs his brother, U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, as the Rev. Al Sharpton, right, comforts both men after transporting the casket of their father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, into a hearse following his funeral service at Rainbow PUSH Coalition Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

The Rev. Jesse Jackson departs Rainbow PUSH Coalition for the final time

930 E. 50th St., Chicago

A fresh approach to fostering youth in Illinois carries hope Welcome to Hope House, a model for fostering children and teens developed by the Chicago-based nonprofit One Hope United. The premise is a stable household with a built-in support team to help the …

Welcome to Hope House, a model for fostering children and teens developed by the Chicago-based nonprofit One Hope United. The premise is a stable household with a built-in support team to help the young residents thrive.

Final farewells for Rev. Jesse Jackson put focus on his impact on Black women leaders A public service for the Rev. Jesse Jackson will be held in Chicago on Friday, with former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden in attendance.

A public service for the Rev. Jesse Jackson will be held in Chicago on Friday, with former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden in attendance.

‘Don’t let the door hit you on the way out’: Illinois officials cheer Kristi Noem’s ouster at Homeland Security Noem’s ouster was celebrated by local officials and activists, who said good riddance to the woman who oversaw unprecedented immigration raids in the Chicago area.

"Spreading of lies"
"An incompetent leader"
"She will not be missed in Chicago."
"Don't let the door hit you on the way out"
Illinois officials cheer Kristi Noem’s ouster at Homeland Security:
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/t...

Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson keep up Bears stadium pitches Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker continued mounting their public pitches for where the Chicago Bears should build their next stadium in Illinois.

Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker continued mounting their public pitches for where the Bears should build their next stadium in Illinois, even as the NFL franchise keeps up its Indiana flirtation.

Does Michael Mann's Heat 2 movie exist in the same universe as Thief, the Thief-iverse? Should we expect young high-strung Chicago Police Det. Vincent Hanna to bump into Frank, or to investigate the bombing of The Green Mill? Give the fans what they want, Mann!

All manner of cool places to pick up our guide but I would just note that two places to hang out and learn about judges are the Beer Temple and Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records. Could make a nice Saturday afternoon of it.

Susana Mendoza endorses Holly Kim to replace her as Illinois comptroller The endorsement brings a significant boost to Kim, the Lake County treasurer, over three Democratic rivals vying for their party’s nomination in the March 17 primary election.

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced she has endorsed Holly Kim to be her successor.

Today in Chicago History: Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan indicted on federal racketeering charges Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on March 2, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Today in Chicago History: Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan indicted on federal racketeering charges

Far-right influencer Nick Fuentes provides apology letter to Berwyn woman he allegedly pepper-sprayed Far-right influencer Nick Fuentes wrote an apology letter to Marla Rose, who he was accused of pepper-spraying in 2024 as she attempted to ring the doorbell of his west suburban home.

Far-right influencer Nick Fuentes has written an apology letter to the woman he was accused of pepper-spraying more than a year ago as she attempted to ring the doorbell of his west suburban home.

Chicago hotel tax backed by industry to boost tourism advances in City Council The new “Tourism Improvement District” backed by hotel, labor and business groups would allow dozens of large Chicago hotels to impose a new 1.5% tax on overnight stays.

After downtown hotel owners banded together to offer to tax themselves and raise money to boost tourism, aldermen advanced their plan Friday.

Chicago Fire open up marketing center to sell suites and seats at new $750M soccer stadium As the Bears waffle between potential destinations for their new planned stadium, including potentially moving across state lines to Indiana, the Chicago Fire is ready to break ground next month in…

The Chicago Fire, who are building a privately funded $750 million soccer stadium in the South Loop, have opened an experiential marketing center in the Wrigley Building.

Charged, acquitted and sued, former CPD Officer Pierre Tyler now seeks expungement in murder case Former Chicago police Officer Pierre Tyler was one of about a dozen petitions for expungement heard last week by a Cook County judge. But Tyler’s case was the only one involving a former cop and a …

Charged, acquitted and sued, former CPD Officer Pierre Tyler now seeks expungement in murder case chicagotribune.com/2026/02/26/c...

Chicago credit downgraded, which will mean higher borrowing costs Two ratings agencies have downgraded the city of Chicago and kept their negative outlooks intact, citing the city’s back-to-back budget shortfalls since 2023.

Two ratings agencies have downgraded the city of Chicago and kept their negative outlooks intact, citing the city’s back-to-back budget shortfalls since 2023, reliance on “non-structural solutions” to patch up holes, stubborn gaps in future years.

Cook County tech company says it will not talk to Treasurer Maria Pappas due to ‘abuse’ The decree comes as Tyler Technologies and the treasurer’s office attempt to work through the final stages of a troubled decade-long property tax technology upgrade.

Cook County Treasurer Pappas on allegation she used profane language while berating tech co. execs over botched prop tax system rollout: “I never claimed to be a nun." @adquig.bsky.social w the latest in her ongoing coverage of the fight. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/24/c...

Chicago on the hook for paying back millions in late fees collected for parking, city sticker violations: judge The city of Chicago could be on the hook to pay drivers back millions of dollars following a class-action lawsuit alleging expensive late fees were tacked onto tickets for infractions like parking …

The city of Chicago could be on the hook to pay drivers back millions of dollars following a class-action lawsuit that alleged it violated state law by tacking expensive late fees onto tickets for infractions like parking without a city sticker.

Chicago Park District pushes $630M plan to revamp Soldier Field post-Bears The Park District pitched state officials on converting the 61,500-seat venue to a destination for concerts and other special events once the Bears leave.

The Chicago Park District has proposed a $630 million plan to revamp Soldier Field once the Bears move on, pitching state officials on converting the 66,000-seat venue to a destination for concerts and other events.

Story by @jeremygorner.bsky.social, @aliceyin.bsky.social and Robert McCoppin.

Chicago’s newest snow plow name ‘Abolish ICE,’ Mayor Brandon Johnson says Mayor Brandon Johnson announced “Abolish ICE” as the winner of a citywide snow plow name contest. He had earlier given it a “full and complete” endorsement.

Mayor Brandon Johnson announced “Abolish ICE” as the winner of a citywide snow plow name contest. He had earlier given it a “full and complete” endorsement.

In State of the State address, Gov. JB Pritzker pitches affordability and Illinois resilience to Trump Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said the Trump administration’s actions cutting federal funding for various programs have cost the people of Illinois $8.4 billion.

With an eye toward this election year and possibly the next, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker used his State of the State and budget address to outline a message of resistance to President Donald Trump and the need to push affordability against the economic moves of his White House.

A titan of civil rights remembered.

An advanced look at tomorrow's front page, featuring the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Political leaders across Illinois mourn Rev. Jesse Jackson’s death: ‘A giant of the civil rights movement’ Political leaders across Illinois who mourned Rev. Jesse Jackson’s death and nodded to the decades-long movement he championed after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his mentor.

Political leaders across Illinois who mourned Rev. Jesse Jackson’s death and nodded to the decades-long movement he championed after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his mentor.

Illinois Republican governor candidate Darren Bailey rebukes national GOP for post mocking Pritzker’s weight The official GOP X account used Valentine’s Day to post a generated image of Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker sitting at a table piled with food and declaring, “My love for you is bigger than J…

Illinois Republican governor candidate Darren Bailey rebukes national GOP for post mocking Pritzker's weight www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/16/g...

Chicago treasurer employee alleges political staff pushed office on US bonds boycott Mauricio Banuelos, a treasurer’s office portfolio manager, sent a complaint to the public integrity units of both the Illinois attorney general and U.S. Department of Justice.

Chicago treasurer employee alleges political staff pushed office on anti-Trump US bonds boycott
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/16/c...

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas held stock in company that has county technology deal Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas held stock for years in a company with a major contract working in her office, a potential violation of the county’s conflict-of-interest rules.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has been one of the most vociferous critics of Tyler Technologies, the company that has been in charge of the rocky upgrade of the county’s property tax system, for more than a decade.

Aldermen opposed to Mayor Brandon Johnson on budget announce ‘accountability commission’ Mayor Brandon Johnson’s fight with aldermen about the budget continued Wednesday as council members said they are organizing to monitor his execution of the plan.

The coalition is set to include 11 separate working groups tasked with tracking the most controversial plans to cut spending and raise revenue

Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino praised agent after shooting Marimar Martinez in Chicago, evidence shows A trove of evidence was released Tuesday in the controversial shooting of Marimar Martinez by a Border Patrol agent at the height of Operation Midway Blitz last October, including a body-worn camer…

A trove of evidence was released Tuesday in the shooting of Marimar Martinez by a Border Patrol agent at the height of Operation Midway Blitz, including a body-worn camera video showing just before their vehicles collided and messages sent later by the agent joking and bragging about the shooting.

Today in Chicago History: Jackie Robinson West stripped of Little League baseball championship Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Feb. 11, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Today in Chicago History: Jackie Robinson West stripped of Little League baseball championship

Mayor Brandon Johnson says he won’t have say in charging ICE agents after prosecutor pushback Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday said he will not refer alleged cases of misconduct by federal immigration agents to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s remarks were the latest volley in the public back-and-forth between the two officials who are at odds over how to respond to federal immigration raids.

Aldermen to vote on $29.2 million to settle four Detective Reynaldo Guevara lawsuits City attorneys are recommending aldermen spend $29.2 million to settle four wrongful conviction lawsuits tied to disgraced former Chicago police Detective Reynaldo Guevara.

If the deals win final approval in a full City Council vote later this month, the city will have spent over $58 million through February on police-related suits.