Good morning, Chicago.
This wasn’t the speech Jose Wilson had hoped to give after making a run for Democratic committeeperson in Chicago’s 1st Ward.
Two months before votes were cast in the March primary, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners booted Wilson from the ballot. Though Wilson had turned in nearly 1,700 signatures on his nominating petitions — knocking on doors for weeks last fall and winter — one of his rivals torpedoed Wilson’s candidacy by successfully challenging enough of those signatures to keep him off the ballot.
And so, at a sparsely attended January hearing inside a sterile government conference room, Wilson rose to deliver his last speech of the race, directing his frustration at a cutthroat Illinois balloting process a Tribune investigation found is overly complicated, limits voters’ choices and contributes to corruption that plagues government throughout the state.
“I don’t think it’s fair,” Wilson told election board members. “I don’t think it’s clear. I don’t think it’s transparent.”
It is, however, a system firmly entrenched in Illinois, one that makes it harder for people to qualify for the ballot than in many states and easier to get kicked off.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Joe Mahr.
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Amid false claims, Illinois elections officials push integrity, transparency — and maybe body armor
The roughly 100 men and women who oversee elections in Illinois — both Democrats and Republicans — have launched a voter integrity campaign to help debunk falsehoods being fed in large part by lies from former President Donald Trump and his allies that the 2020 election was stolen.
But even as the elections officials open their offices for tours and make themselves available for questions about the voting process and the equipment they are using to count ballots for the Nov. 5 election, the head of their state association said he is considering purchasing body armor amid fears the conspiracy theories will turn physical.
Loss of prison would be latest blow to downstate Lincoln, a town christened with watermelon juice by Old Abe himself
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The prospect of losing Logan and the nearly 500 jobs it provides would be the latest blow to a town of a little more than 13,000 residents that in recent years has lost a number of local institutions, including two colleges and a state developmental center.
Valparaiso cop joins special task force, but on-the-job harassment forces her out. ‘It was too much.’
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As 7 charter schools plan to close, Chicago Teachers Union asks district to step in
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Buyers who purchased $8M Naperville mansion for record price to sell portion of site to create 4 new homesites
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Caleb Williams was in total control, but the Chicago Bears weren’t surprised. Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on a big win in London.
The long flight home will be a smooth one after the Bears put together a complete effort, dismantling the Jacksonville Jaguars 35-16 on Sunday to win their third consecutive game for the first time since the end of the 2020 season.
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Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard trying to shed his nothing-but-hockey image: ‘I’m not on the ice all day’
The Hawks are at least a little concerned about Bedard’s long-term physical and mental endurance. Believe it or not, Bedard gets it.
“I mean, I’m not on the ice all day,” the 19-year-old star told the Tribune. “I take a lot of pride in taking care of my body and trying to feel the best I can every game. That’s No. 1 in the season.”
A football fan’s Valhalla: Red Grange christened Memorial Stadium 100 years ago and became an Illini legend
One hundred years ago this week, Red Grange took the opening kickoff of the Illinois-Michigan football game on the Fighting Illini’s 5-yard line and zigzagged through 11 frustrated defenders to score a touchdown, giving 65,000 fans a down payment on the thrill show they were expecting when they headed to Champaign’s new stadium from all directions.
Biblioracle: John A. Williams deserves to be in the literary canon. Here’s why.
John Warner wants to talk about the literary canon, the texts that have been judged to be worthwhile and enduring and therefore deserving of special status in our culture.
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Support your favorite cookie recipe by voting in the Tribune’s 2024 Holiday Cookie Contest
Your recipes are in and now it’s time to vote for which mouthwatering treats will make it to the final round of the Tribune’s 2024 Holiday Cookie Contest.
