Good morning, Chicago.
Newly released records reveal the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, was the primary funding organization behind two ostensibly independent super PACs that spent heavily to reshape Chicago-area Democratic congressional primaries — a connection the groups did not disclose during the campaign.
The records also show the groups received significant sums from individual megadonors, including Michael Sacks, who led the local host committee for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
United Democracy Project, AIPAC’s affiliated super PAC, directed more than $5.3 million to bankroll the groups Elect Chicago Women and Affordable Chicago Now, according to Federal Election Commission filings released Friday night.
The two super PACs, along with UDP itself, emerged as the largest outside spenders in Chicago’s four competitive congressional primaries, part of a surge that reached an unprecedented $32.9 million in outside spending. But who was behind and funded the groups remained shrouded until after the March 17 primary election, a tactic that sparked controversy as opponents decried hidden influence.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan and Olivia Olander.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: what to know about a deadly collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, a push to protect Morgan Shoal and the Chicago shoreline and what’s next for the Illinois men as they advance to the Sweet 16.
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US will hold off on power plant strikes for 5 days, extending Trump deadline on Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump has extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying the U.S. will hold off on power plant strikes for five days.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social site today, hours ahead of a deadline later in the day.
Pilot and copilot killed in collision between jet and fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport
Two people were killed and several others badly hurt when an Air Canada regional jet struck a fire truck on a runway while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, officials said.
The pilot and copilot were killed in the collision late last night, which crushed the nose of the aircraft, while around 40 passengers and crew members were taken to area hospitals, some with serious injuries. Most have since been released from treatment, authorities said today.
Man charged in Loyola student’s shooting as ICE lodges arrest detainer
The Department of Homeland Security said yesterday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had lodged an arrest detainer asking Illinois officials not to release a suspect, who is a Venezuelan migrant, according to the agency, and who has been taken into custody in connection with Thursday’s shooting death of a Loyola University freshman.
CTA riders and workers have been assaulted at rates at least double other public transit agencies
Workers and passengers on the Chicago Transit Authority have been assaulted at rates at least double those of comparable public transit systems around the country, according to a Tribune analysis of federal data.
The analysis comes as the Trump administration has accused the CTA of doing too little to address violent crime on mass transit, in another front of the political war between the feds and leaders in deep blue Illinois.
Hearing postponed for man charged with murder, arson in Chicago firefighter’s death
A detention hearing was rescheduled for today for a man charged with arson and murder in the death of Chicago firefighter Michael Altman.
The defendant, Sheaves Slate, 27, of Avondale, was hospitalized and did not appear for his hearing Saturday. Slate was charged Friday with both residential arson and aggravated arson, along with murder, in connection with the fire in Rogers Park that led to Altman’s death, police said.
Locals with birthright citizenship hope the practice prevails as Supreme Court to weigh in
As the son of an undocumented mother and father, Pablo Serrano of Chicago says it would be painful for him — and harmful to the nation — if America were to end its long-standing practice of birthright citizenship for future generations.
A push to protect Morgan Shoal — a marine wonder on the South Side — and the Chicago shoreline
A few hundred feet off the shoreline of Kenwood and Hyde Park lives an underwater marvel few Chicagoans ever see: the remnants of a 400 million-year-old coral reef scattered with ancient fossils and the wreckage of the Silver Spray, a steamship that sank after striking the shallow bedrock in 1914.
For free diver Jessica Christopher, the milelong stretch of underwater dolomite known as Morgan Shoal is a rare natural refuge along Chicago’s otherwise engineered lakefront.
Illinois big men rediscover their nastiness in advancing to the Sweet 16: ‘That’s a recipe to win for us.’
On the night Illinois lost to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament, coach Brad Underwood lamented that his team didn’t show the requisite toughness to advance beyond the quarterfinal. The Illini weren’t nasty enough, didn’t give a s−−− enough, he said.
He no longer had those complaints Saturday night after Illinois completed two blowout wins against Penn and VCU in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
- Illinois puts on a show in 76-55 win over VCU to advance to Sweet 16
- Destiny Jackson’s big 4th quarter helps young Illinois team open with 66-57 win over Colorado
How the Chicago Cubs are using biometric data to further player development and health
Jameson Taillon’s calf injury presented a problem.
For seven weeks last season Taillon rehabbed his calf. By the time he could return to the Chicago Cubs rotation, late August approached. Taillon had been limited by what he was able to do with his lower half because of his ailing calf, but he wanted to find a way to keep his right shoulder in shape and built up. Months earlier, during spring training, Taillon started wearing Catapult technology for the first time in his career.
- Cactus League report: Cubs and White Sox finishing up in Arizona as opening day approaches
- Cubs make camp cuts as opening-day roster starts coming into focus — but who will get a bench spot?
