Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: Illinois is investigating claims the landlord of a South Shore apartment complex raided by ICE last fall tipped off federal agents in an attempt to "intimidate and coerce the building's Black and Hispanic tenants into leaving."
🗞️ Plus: A fast-moving murder-for-hire trial, a new ban on hemp-derived products and more news you need to know.
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⏱️: A 9-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER 🌤️
Mostly sunny with a chance of snow showers, a high near 23 and wind chill values as low as -1.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
Illinois investigates if landlord tipped off immigration raid at South Shore apartments
By Violet Miller
Who tipped off feds?: Illinois is investigating claims that the landlord of a South Shore building at the center of a widely publicized immigration raid last fall tipped off federal agents in an attempt to intimidate residents out of the apartments.
The investigation: The Illinois Department of Human Rights announced Wednesday that it filed a formal housing discrimination charge and opened an investigation into the owners and managers of the building: 7500 Shore A LLC, Trinity Flood and Strength in Management LLC. The agency said it is looking into claims the landlords let federal agents know of Venezuelan immigrants living in the building as part of an attempt to "intimidate and coerce the building’s Black and Hispanic tenants into leaving the building."
Key context: Last month, the remaining residents of the 130-unit apartment complex were forced out after it was foreclosed along with two other South Side buildings owned by Trinity Flood, a Wisconsin real estate investor. Tenants who spoke to the Sun-Times after the raid painted a grim picture of life in the building before immigrants moved in and it became a flashpoint in President Donald Trump’s deportation blitz.
Revisit our coverage:
- Council members got campaign cash from PAC tied to landlord of South Shore building hit in immigration raid
- ‘Unlivable’ conditions festered at apartment building long before jarring immigration raid
- Neighbor shielded 7-year-old during South Shore federal raid: ‘I didn’t want them to take her’
IMMIGRATION ✶
Bovino murder-for-hire trial moves fast at federal courthouse
By Jon Seidel
Trial underway: Federal prosecutors on Wednesday argued Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, of Chicago, offered $10,000 for the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino. Prosecutors summoned three witnesses who spent a little less than three hours on the witness stand combined. Espinoza Martinez did not testify in his own defense. His attorneys summoned his younger brother, Oscar Martinez, as their lone witness, who testified for 24 minutes.
Closing statements already: On Thursday, closing arguments are expected, and then it will go to the jury. Key to the case could be whether prosecutors have shown that he intended for the murder to be carried out.
Key context: The unusually swift trial is the first to result from the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation campaign in Chicago, known as Operation Midway Blitz.
More headlines:
- Immigrant advocates slam ICE memo claiming agents can raid homes without a judge’s warrant
- Renee Good’s lawyers release early findings of independent autopsy
CITY HALL 🏛️
Council demands to know why Johnson is delaying full payment of $260M pension advance
By Fran Spielman and Mitchell Armentrout
Explain delay: Last year, an alternative city budget required the city to make a full $260 million advance pension payment to stave off another costly reduction in Chicago’s bond rating. Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration ignored that mandate and made a half-payment last week, promising to pay the other half later this year. On Wednesday, the renegade alderpersons who seized control of the budget process introduced a resolution to have Johnson’s administration explain the delay.
Hemp ban passed: Also Wednesday, the Council's first meeting of 2026, alderpersons voted to outlaw a broad array of hemp-derived products months before a federal ban is set to take effect. The ban would exclude hemp beverages, hemp-infused pet products and other CBD offerings
Curfew ordinance fails: Additionally, Ald. Brian Hopkins revised his teen curfew ordinance yet again — this time to appease Johnson — but failed to get it through the City Council amid complaints it was more like a legislative placebo.
PUBLIC SAFETY ✶
- Should he walk?: As former Gangster Disciples boss Larry Hoover awaits an April hearing on his request for Gov. JB Pritzker to commute his life sentence for murder, influential Chicagoans disagree if he should go free. State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke has rejected Hoover's freedom bid, while ex-U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan supports it.
- Teen fatally shot: Melissa Castrejon, 17, was fatally shot Sunday while in a car with her friends by a man she knew, who was in an alley, police said.
- Dangerous cold: The recent death of Mary Savisky, an 81-year-old Evergreen Park woman, marks the eighth cold-related death this season in Cook County, prompting officials to sound the alarm as a life-threatening bitter cold snap grips the Chicago area.
- Fire destroys church: A blaze tore through the True Light Temple of Praise Baptist church in Ford Heights on Wednesday, prompting construction crews to demolish the building after the fire was extinguished. No one was injured.
HOUSING ✶
More than 58,000 Chicagoans experienced homelessness, new report says
By Esther Yoon-Ji Kang
Chicagoans without homes: More than 58,000 Chicagoans experienced homelessness in 2024, according to a new report from the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness. The new data reveals homelessness in the city is more widespread than official counts show.
Disproportionate impact: The report also showed Black Chicagoans are disproportionately impacted, with more than 12,000 in shelters or on the streets and nearly 21,000 staying at friends' or relatives' homes. While Black denizens make up less than one-third of the population, they account for more than half of those experiencing homelessness.
At issue: The report also noted more than 109,000 housing units were left vacant in 2024 as the number of people experiencing homelessness in Chicago increased. "We do not have a lack of housing; we have a lack of affordable and accessible housing," said M Nelsen, manager of city policy for the coalition.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- Wright-designed home sold: The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Walser House, a dilapidated 123-year-old home in Austin that inspired the architect’s better-known works, has been acquired by the Federal National Mortgage Association.
- Anti-DEI effort dropped: The Trump administration is dropping its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion, which threatened federal funding to schools and colleges.
- ‘Oh, Mary!’ in Chicago: The much acclaimed play about former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln will hit the road for national tour in the fall, but it won't stop in the land of Lincoln until 2027.
- Young Playwrights Festival: Pegasus Theatre Chicago’s 39th iteration of the showcase highlights four one-act productions penned by teens. The plays will be directed, designed and performed by professionals Friday and Saturday at Chicago Dramatists.
CHICAGO HISTORY ⏳
At now-shuttered Berlin Nightclub, art was for celebration and mourning
By Grace Logan
Community hub: Not long after Berlin Nightclub opened in 1983 in Lake View, it became an essential gathering place for the city's LGBTQ+ community, welcoming misfits, artists and dreamers — and encouraging a wide swath of artistic expression.
All welcome: Tim Sullivan and Shirley Mooney opened the club and, over the years, brought in campy art pieces, profound installations, drag performances and much more, patrons remember. There was also room for risk-taking and even mediocre attempts. Art thrived and all expression was welcome.
Celebration, mourning: As the AIDS crisis impacted the LGBTQ+ community, Berlin patrons and staff supported one another. The club was a gathering place to remember lost loved ones. Former patron J.D. Vincent vividly remembers standing shoulder to shoulder with others the afternoon of Sullivan’s memorial service. "He was the light of that place," Vincent said. "Everyone who ever stepped in to Berlin misses Tim, I’m sure of it."
Looking back: WBEZ's Grace Logan spoke with those who recalled the days of Berlin's prime before its closure in 2023.
FROM THE PRESS BOX 🏈📺🏀⚾
- Bears’ season recap: The last time the Bears had a season-ending news conference as chill as Wednesday's with Coach Ben Johnson, QB Caleb Williams was in grade school, writes Patrick Finley.
- NBC 5 sacks anchor: NBC Chicago fired sports anchor Mike Berman on Wednesday amid a reshaping of its sports department. Former Fox 32 sports anchor Lou Canellis is expected to start next week.
- Sky home opener: After opening their season May 9 in Portland, the Sky will come home May 20 to host the Dallas Wings.
- Sox’ plans: White Sox GM Chris Getz said Wednesday that the team plans to be "very active" in upgrading the roster after trading center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
Today's clue: 1D: The ___ Presidential Center (planned South Side community hub)
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
James Beard names 23 Chicago restaurants semifinalists for food awards
By Courtney Kueppers
The James Beard Foundation named 23 Chicago restaurants, chefs and bars Tuesday as semifinalists for this year’s coveted awards. The "Oscars of the food world" annually recognize the best in America’s culinary scene.
Eateries on the list for the coveted Outstanding Restaurant award include the Near West Side's EL Ideas, featuring eclectic American fare from chef Phillip Foss, and the Ukrainian Village Filipino restaurant Kasama, which recently earned its second Michelin star.
Diana Dávila of Logan Square’s Mi Tocaya Antojeria and Zachary Engel of Lincoln Park’s Galit both earned spots on the list for Outstanding Chef.
Chicago also has nine chefs among the semifinalists for best regional chef, including Thai Dang of HaiSous and Christopher Jung and Erling Wu-Bower of Maxwells Trading, who were finalists in the category last year.
Finalists will be announced March 31 and the awards will be given out June 15 in a ceremony at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
Yesterday, we asked you: What song or album best captures the sound of Chicago jazz?
Here’s some of what you said …
"'Nice Guys,' The Art Ensemble of Chicago. It has everything about Chicago jazz's tradition. Forward thinking, great group work, outstanding solos, humor, a distillation of what the [Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians] stands for, a continuation of Chicago’s acoustic bass heritage and a rock-solid in-the-pocket groove." — Mark Reynolds
"Freddy Cole's version of 'On the Southside of Chicago.' From its long saxophone riffs to Mr. Cole's smooth, jazzy voice to the very name of the song, [it] best captures the sound of Chicago jazz." — Mark Quinn
Thanks for reading the Sun-Times Morning Edition! Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.
Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
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