Good morning, Chicago.
Illinois Democratic and Republican voters will soon decide their party’s nominees for races at the federal and state levels, as well as in a few local races, during the March 17 primary election. Early voting kicks off today. Winners of the party primaries will advance to the general election on Nov. 3.
Four top Republican candidates are vying to unseat Gov. JB Pritzker, who is seeking a rare third term. The last governor in Illinois to have served at least three terms was Republican Gov. Jim Thompson, who completed four between 1977 and 1991. Pritzker, who has no competition in the primary, would be the first Democrat in Illinois history to win three terms as governor.
Excitement for Democrats exists elsewhere on the primary ballot.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Jack O’Connor and Kori Rumore.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: the latest on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s public market plan, friends remember a slain Momence bar owner and what’s next for the Bulls after trading Coby White.
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People walk past a mural of Iryna Zarutska in the 2400 block of West Montrose Avenue in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood on Jan. 22, 2026. An idea to paint murals of Zarutska on buildings around the country was initiated by CEO Eoghan McCabe of Intercom, with financial backing from businessman Elon Musk. The murals are designed to honor Zarutska, 23, a Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, in August 2025. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)
Mural of slain Ukrainian refugee draws sympathy, skepticism from its North Center neighbors and Chicago artists
The newly painted mural over a restaurant is part of a nationwide project by Remember Iryna, which has also overseen installations in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, D.C., according to its website.
The killing of Iryna Zarutska, who fled the Russian-Ukrainian war for the U.S. in 2022, drew national attention and reignited right-wing critiques of “soft-on-crime” policies in Democratic-led cities. President Donald Trump called for Zarutska’s killer to receive the death penalty, and Elon Musk, who has financially backed the mural campaign, posted on X that Zarutska was killed “just for being a ‘white girl.’”
Policy chief Jung Yoon, left, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, center, and Budget Director Annette Guzman, far right, clap as Ald. Desmon Yancy, 5th, is introduced onstage during a town hall on Feb. 3, 2026, at the South Shore Cultural Center. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)
Mayor Brandon Johnson heads to budget opponent’s ward to continue fight over 2026 package
Mayor Brandon Johnson held a South Side town hall Tuesday evening to again hammer the city budget, the latest score-settling between him and the City Council bloc that passed its own plan in December after rejecting key parts of his proposal.
Mayor Brandon Johnson arrives to speak after a City Council meeting on Jan. 21, 2026, at Chicago City Hall. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s public market plan slows to a crawl
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s marquee plan to increase access to fresh groceries on the city’s South and West sides — a plan that initially called for a city-owned grocery store and later evolved into a proposed year-round market — appears to have slowed to a crawl.
A student walks toward the entrance of Chamberlain University in Chicago, Feb. 4, 2026. Adtalem Global Education is changing its name to Covista, which has five health-care-focused institutions, including Chamberlain University. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)
Adtalem changes its name, after move toward health care education
Chicago-based Adtalem Global Education is again changing its name, this time to Covista, to reflect the for-profit company’s pivot toward health care education.
The company was previously called DeVry Education Group before changing its name to Adtalem in 2017, following years of scrutiny and government enforcement directed toward for-profit colleges.
Chicago police work at the scene of a shooting and car fire in the Near West Side neighborhood near the White Castle restaurant at West Roosevelt Road and North Western Avenue, Feb. 3, 2026. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Police probe link between West Side shootings, possible gang involvement
Belmont Area detectives are investigating possible links between a pair of shootings that wreaked havoc up and down the Near West Side over a few hours Tuesday afternoon, where the same group of gunmen may have shot at a total of six people in three cars, leaving three of the victims dead.
Courtney Drysdale, 30, was shot to death Monday at the bar she owned in Momence in Kankakee County. (Hailey Gershon)
Friends remember ‘amazing’ Momence bar owner; Indiana man arrested in slaying
Courtney Drysdale, 30, was found shot to death at The Line, a bar she owned in Momence near the Illinois/Indiana state line in Kankakee County, shortly before noon on Monday, according to the Kankakee County sheriff’s office. An Indiana man was arrested this week in connection with the fatal shooting and is being held after waiving extradition at a court appearance.
Bulls guard Coby White smiles after they defeated the Jazz 128-126 on Jan. 14, 2026, at the United Center. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls trade Coby White to the Charlotte Hornets, ending his 7-year tenure with the team
After seven years with the team, Coby White no longer will wear a Bulls jersey.
The Bulls traded White to the Charlotte Hornets yesterday along with Mike Conley Jr., getting back Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round draft picks.
The Minnesota Frost’s Kendall Coyne Schofield stands on the ice during a game against the Torronto Sceptres on March 30, 2025, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Blackhawks’ Teuvo Teräväinen and Palos Heights’ Kendall Coyne Schofield embrace Olympic experience
While Blackhawks star Connor Bedard wasn’t selected to Canada’s roster, Hawks forward Teuvo Teräväinen will play for defending Olympic champion Finland.
In the women’s competition — which begins Thursday, one day before the opening ceremony — Team USA has three Illinois-born players, headed by four-time Olympian Kendall Coyne Schofield of Palos Heights.
Director Robert Falls speaks to the cast on stage, Jan. 30, 2026, during rehearsal for “Holiday,” at the Goodman Theatre. Assistant director Hannah Todd is at right. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)
‘Holiday’ comes to the Goodman, directed by Bob Falls and no longer a zany comedy
Ed Greenberg, who now supervises his late brother’s estate, will be in Chicago on Monday for the opening of Robert Falls’ Goodman homecoming production of “Holiday,” the last Richard Greenberg play to be completed during his lifetime (although Ed said there were “four or five things on Richard’s computer,” yet to be mined).
Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård in a scene from “Pillion.” (A24/TNS)
Review: ‘Pillion’ is an amusing and daring kink-positive romance
Harry Lighton’s “dom-com,” “Pillion,” is an amusing, illuminating and daring romance about a dominant/submissive relationship that proves revelatory for our young protagonist, writes Katie Walsh. Based on the novella “Box Hill” by Adam Mars-Jones, the film follows a relationship between the sheltered Colin (Harry Melling) and stoic biker Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), who meet in a pub one Christmas Eve.
