The fight for control of school boards, April runoff races heat up and more in your Chicago news roundup

Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about an eight-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

— Matt Moore (@MattKenMoore)

Weather ☀️

This afternoon will be mostly sunny with a high near 44 degrees. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low near 28. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with a high near 49.

Top story

Illinois Democrats spending big to combat ‘extremist conservatives’ in school board races

In an unprecedented move, the Illinois Democratic Party is investing about $300,000 in school and library board elections around the state to combat what it calls “extremist conservatives.”

Historically, voter turnout for school board elections is low and doesn’t make headlines beyond the given community. But in recent years, school board meetings and elections across the country have become more contentious over topics like COVID-19 mitigation policies, book bans and diversity, equity and inclusion curriculum.

The Democratic Party of Illinois is “committed to supporting credible candidates who will oppose efforts to ban books, revise history, and limit reasonable sex education,” party chair and State Rep. Lisa Hernandez said in a statement. “We can’t afford to sit back while kids and families are at risk.”

Ben Hardin, executive director of the party, said the party started hearing from various residents in November about conservative groups training candidates, and the party got involved at the beginning of this year. Election Day is April 4.

The party is recommending 84 school and library board candidates across around the state. It’s also sending direct mail against 74 candidates whom it calls “extremists.”

As previously reported by WBEZ, groups of conservative candidates are banding together in an attempt to get elected, sometimes with the support of outside organizations.

Hardin says there are extremist groups and candidates that are anti-LGBTQ and anti- diversity, equity and inclusion.

“They’re coaching these candidates to couch their dangerous and regressive agendas in fuzzy language that on its surface seems harmless and maybe even pragmatic,” he said. “But at the end of the day, the real agendas are dangerous.”

WBEZ’s Susie An has more on both sides’ attempts to gain control of school boards statewide.

More news you need

• The federal government’s star witness — former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez — took the stand in the ComEd bribery trial today. Marquez agreed to cooperate with the FBI in 2019 and secretly recorded his colleagues who are now on trial. Prosecutors plan to use those recordings to spotlight a key contract used to pay associates of former House Speaker Mike Madigan. Tina Sfondeles and Jon Seidel have the latest on today’s developments in the ongoing trial.
• A Chicago firefighter is expected to be placed on leave after being charged with running an “erotic massage” business from his apartment. Brendan Kennedy-Gasior, 37, faces a felony count of promoting prostitution and was released from custody Friday after posting a $500 bond, records show.
• A Chicago police officer is facing dismissal for shooting an unarmed man during a chase on the South Side in 2018, with investigators saying there was little reason to believe the man was reaching for a weapon. Officer Carlos Barona told investigators he thought the man he was chasing was reaching for a weapon as he yanked at his boot, but a search of the area found no firearm.
• With the Chicago Police Department facing a wave of retirements and struggling to retain and recruit talent, the interim top cop last week announced new programs to rehire officers who have left the force and to poach others from outside the city. The age-restricted programs aim to help fill about 2,000 vacancies in the department.
• Tributes are pouring out for Chicago author and journalist Bill Zehme, who was known for masterfully writing celebrity profiles and biographies. Zehme, 64, died Sunday. Neil Steinberg has more on Zehme’s life and legacy.
• A group of vendors fighting to remain in the Discount Mall in Little Village have been told to move out by tomorrow. Their fate was all but sealed after a judge last Friday refused to block changes to the mall planned by the property’s owner.
• Imagine you’re running behind on car payments and your vehicle disables its AC, locks you out, and eventually, drives away on its own. Ford Motor Co. applied for a patent last month that would use future car technology to do just that.
• The CTA is expanding service again on a busy portion of the Blue Line to accommodate a boost in riders — something that could benefit commuters stuck in traffic due to construction on the Kennedy Expressway. The CTA says the move was also a measure to increase service despite the agency’s hiring troubles, which CTA leaders have blamed for “ghost” trains and buses.
• The biohub research venture of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and wife Dr. Priscilla Chan is setting up in Chicago’s Fulton Market, its first location outside of its original center in San Francisco. The center will research inflammation’s role in human diseases. Its funding includes $25 million in a capital grant from the state.

Elections 2023 🗳️

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

The mayor’s race

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has thrown his support behind Paul Vallas in the April 4 Chicago mayoral runoff, calling Vallas a “bridge to uniting” Chicago.

Meanwhile, the Rev. Al Sharpton joined Brandon Johnson at a get-out-the-vote rally in West Garfield Park yesterday. Sharpton stopped just short of endorsing Johnson, but he did tell the hundreds gathered at New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church to note which candidate joined them at the rally.

The two candidates gathered Saturday for a town hall at UIC’s Dorin Forum, where they spent the morning making commitments to the 30 different local community groups in attendance. Here’s more on how it all went down — and who got the best reception from the crowd.

City Council runoff

Despite playing out on near-opposite sides of the city, the races for City Council in the 10th and 30th wards share similarities. Residents in both wards want stronger public safety and more community investment. And each race features some political newcomers with familiar names. Ana Guajardo and Peter Chico are competing in a runoff in the 10th Ward on the Southeast Side, while Jessica Gutiérrez and Ruth Cruz are vying for the 30th Ward. Kaitlin Washburn has more on these ward races.

In a neck-and-neck race for the 11th Ward is incumbent Ald. Nicole Lee — who was appointed to the seat by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to replace former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson — and Chicago Police instructor Anthony Ciaravino. With Daley Thompson’s conviction, it may seem that the Daley family’s grip on the 11th Ward is slipping. However, despite boundary and demographic changes in the ward, the Daleys and their allies are still exerting influence. Matthew Hendrickson has more on the battle for the 11th Ward.

The 29th Ward snakes along the western edge of Chicago like a Tetris piece, covering several miles — an area marked by vast disparities. Those differences were on display in the first round of voting, with incumbent Ald. Chris Taliaferro and challenger CB Johnson running strongest in different parts of the ward. Michael Loria explains how each candidate plans to win the Council seat.

A bright one 🌸

Where to enjoy spring blooms around Chicago, a garden lover’s guide

Nothing signals springtime like the return of budding trees and wildflowers. Florals for spring might not be groundbreaking, but they are timeless and make us happy.

Whether you’re looking to bask in the beauty of beautiful blooms or consider yourself a serious horticulturist, there are plenty of opportunities around Chicago to admire and learn. Here’s a look at some of them:

Garfield Park Conservatory: The Garfield Park Conservatory’s “Spring Flower Show: Bees Knees” explores the relationship between bees and flowers. Staff members show off the blooms and hives from the conservatory’s beekeeping program. Tulips, daffodils, honey: It’s maximum spring. The show runs through May 14.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file

Spring Woods Walk: Beginning Sunday, you can catch some spring blooms at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s McDonald Woods. There, you’ll get to see budding trees and scenic flowers and maybe get a chance to spot some of the more than 100 migrating and resident types of birds that pass through in the spring. What’s more, optional, guided 45-minute tours teach visitors about seasonal challenges facing the area.

‘Cooler by the Lake’: Through May 14, head over to the Lincoln Park Conservatory for its spring flower show. The exhibit takes advantage of cooler-toned flowers, such as cineraria and snapdragons, to match Lake Michigan. Look for nods to lakefront staples such as passing boats and the iconic Chicago Harbor lighthouse.

Jackson Park Cherry Blossoms: Sometime starting in late March into early May, you can see cherry blossoms bloom in Jackson Park. The park is home to more than 160 cherry varieties. The trees remain in bloom for just three to eight days, but just when the blossoms arrive varies and is anybody’s guess.

WBEZ’s Julia Binswanger has more must-see blooms in her full list.

From the press box

• With 4 seed UConn, 5 seed Miami, 5 seed San Diego State and 9 seed Florida Atlantic, it’s the second-highest seed total — 23, math whizzes — in the history of the Final Four. Steve Greenback has more on the weekend’s games and makes his pick for who will win it all.
• The Cubs and White Sox have rocked a lot of different looks over the years. Here’s our ranking of each team’s top five uniforms of all time.
• Ian Happ still awaits a contract extension as Cubs spring training nears its end: “I don’t think there’s any benefit of putting deadlines out there, so it’s a fluid conversation.”
• Sox GM Rick Hahn “needs a big season to justify the rebuild road he took his team on” and Cubs GM Jed Hoyer “could use some success, too,” as both teams start this year on a hopeful note, Rick Telander writes.

Your daily question☕

Who would you say is the most beloved Chicagoan of all time?

Send us an email at newsletters@suntimes.com and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

On Friday, we asked you: If you could go back to the start of the pandemic knowing what you know now, would you do anything differently?

Here’s what some of you said…

“You should ask the government that question! Personally, it worked out fine for us, but at least 5 of our acquaintances died.” — Sylvia Billups

“Would have stocked up on all my favorite foods. So many things disappeared off the shelves, and some still haven’t returned.” — Barbara Strangeman

“Nothing we could have done, but if our president would have taken it seriously sooner, maybe it wouldn’t have drug out so long.” — Susan Gerrietts Hill

“Where a mask much sooner.” — Thomas Lawson

“Buy drug stocks.” — Jeff Miller

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