Daywatch: What we know about primary elections in Chicago's suburbs

Chicago Tribune

26-02-2025

Good morning, Chicago.
Primary elections were held last night in Chicago's suburbs, and several well-known names were on the ballot.
In Dolton, Trustee Jason House declared victory over incumbent Mayor Tiffany Henyard in the Democratic primary. 'The community spoke loud and clear tonight,' House told supporters. 'We faced four years of intimidation, four years of failure.'
'Today marks an end to a dark day in Dolton,' he said. 'Today marks the first day of the future.'
In Aurora, unofficial results show incumbent Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and Ald. John Laesch leading to advance through the primary election to be on the April 1 ballot as mayoral candidates. Irvin has been the mayor of Aurora since 2017 and before that was an alderman at-large for 10 years in the city. In 2022, he unsuccessfully ran for governor of Illinois, losing in the Republican primary.
Other Democratic contests in Aurora Township included races for clerk between Adam Pauley and Angela Thomas and highway commissioner between incumbent Jason Owens and Donald Ishmael.
The Homer Township Reset slate, a group of Republicans challenging the incumbent township administration, was leading by a large margin Tuesday night in the Homer Township Republican primary after all precincts reported, according to unofficial results. The Will County Freedom Caucus headed by incumbent Supervisor Steve Balich sought an additional four years, but the Homer Township Reset slate said they wanted to change the tone of the community.
In other elections, incumbents Jada Curry and Lawrence Jackson lead in Lynwood and Riverdale primaries, and Thaddeus Jones declared victory over James Patton in the Calumet City mayoral race.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.
A Southwest plane and business jet nearly collided at Midway. It's not the first close call investigated at the airport.
Federal authorities are investigating two jets that appeared to narrowly avoid a collision at Midway Airport, as a string of recent aviation disasters has caused public confidence in air safety to start to waver.
Around 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, a Southwest plane aborted a landing when a business jet entered the runway without authorization, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident. Video circulating on social media shows a dramatic reversal of plans by the Southwest plane.
Mayor Brandon Johnson warns he will need to dip into reserves unless school board approves pension payment, borrowing
Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration said his latest pension payment and borrowing plan for Chicago Public Schools is imminently needed to avert a city budget deficit, the latest twist in his struggle with CPS leadership over the fate of the school district's finances.
At a City Hall news conference, the mayor and Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski addressed their March 30 deadline to persuade the school board to make a $175 million pension payment that is blowing a hole in last year's budget. His team's pitch for the similarly cash-strapped school district to cover that cost — as well as the start of the upcoming Chicago Teachers Union contract — is to issue $242 million in bonds, the Tribune reported last week.
'He's killing my baby': Palestinian-American boy's mother testifies at hate crime murder trial
On the final day of his life, 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi ate breakfast with his mother, helped her change the sheets on their beds and played an educational game on a cell phone. The kindergartener was getting ready to take a shower when their landlord knocked on the door, his mother Hanan Shaheen testified yesterday.
In the moments that followed, Joseph Czuba – who owned the home in unincorporated Plainfield where the family rented two bedrooms – charged at Shaheen and stabbed her with a knife, she testified. She said he screamed during the rampage about the war between Israel and Hamas.
Social Security says higher payments are on the way for millions of former public workers
More than 3.2 million Social Security recipients who received pensions from their time as teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public service jobs will soon see a boost in their benefits.
Pope Francis resting as Argentines in Rome pray for his recovery
Pope Francis was sitting upright and receiving therapy for double pneumonia today, the Vatican said, as Argentines, Romans and others kept up the steady stream of prayers for his recovery. Francis remained in critical condition but the Holy See machinery ground on, with the announcement of new bishops and a new church fundraising initiative.
Migrating sandhill cranes latest bird flu victims in Indiana; more than 1,500 killed
Sandhill cranes are the latest victims of a particularly persistent strain of avian influenza, killing at least 1,500 of the migrating birds in recent weeks, according to a biologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
5 things we learned at the NFL combine, including a potential overhaul of the Chicago Bears offensive line
The NFL scouting combine is in full swing, and Tuesday offered an opportunity for new Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles to provide updates on the team's offseason progress.
Johnson and Poles each met with reporters for 15 minutes Tuesday. Here are five key things we learned from those sessions.
Column: Chicago Bears aren't making national headlines at this year's NFL combine. That's a welcome change.
Jason Peters, the 9-time Pro Bowl tackle who played 1 year for the Chicago Bears, retires after 21 NFL seasons
Nine-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro offensive tackle Jason Peters is retiring after 21 NFL seasons and transitioning into a front-office role with the Seattle Seahawks, general manager John Schneider said Tuesday.
Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury retires after 20 WNBA seasons, 3 titles and 6 Olympic golds
Diana Taurasi is retiring after 20 seasons, ending one of the greatest careers in women's basketball history.
The WNBA's career scoring leader and a three-time league champion, Taurasi announced her retirement on Tuesday in an interview with Time magazine. The Phoenix Mercury — the only WNBA team she played for — also confirmed her decision.
Starbucks is cutting some 'less popular' drinks from its menu. Here's what will be removed next week
Starbucks is making cuts to its menu, with some of the coffee giant's 'less popular beverages' set to take their final bow next week.
Tasty Toronto: Pamper your palate with a trip around the world, all within Canada's multicultural metropolis
A magnet for immigrants, Toronto boasts a deep bench of multicultural neighborhoods, each adding its own flavor and flair to the city's 15,000-plus restaurants. It doesn't have one Chinatown. It has three. More, if you include the suburbs. And lots of 'Littles.' Little Jamaica. Little India. Little Italy. Little Tibet.
'There are all these enclaves of different communities … and you really see it reflected in the food,' said Toronto native and 'Top Chef' judge Gail Simmons.
'Deli Boys' on Devon Avenue: How Ali's Nihari became a favorite spot for actors on the Hulu show
In a room full of Pakistanis, 'I love nihari' is as obvious a statement as 'I like pizza' is to some people, writes Tribune food reporter Ahmed Ali Akbar.
At Ali's Nihari & BBQ, sometimes called Ali Nihari, the dish is made traditionally; a hearty cut of beef braised for hours results in a bowl of fall-apart meat with a punch of umami and spice. The red-orange braising liquid at nihari's base is finished in the cooking pot with a partial emulsification with flour, ending up perfectly tandoori naan-scoopable. Fresh green chilis, ginger and lemon toppings freshen up each person's bowl to their taste; modifications with additional bone marrow, brain or ghee infused with a tarka of spices are available as well.
Originally Published: