Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: Key takeaways and analysis of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech.
🗞️ Plus: Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is accused of abuse, the city is ordered to refund millions in ticket overcharges and more news you need to know.
📝 Keeping score: The Bulls lost to the Hornets, 131-99.
📧 Subscribe: Get this newsletter delivered to your inbox weekday mornings.
⏱️: A 9-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER ☀️
Sunny with a high near 35.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
Takeaways from Trump’s State of the Union address
By Tina Sfondeles and Lynn Sweet
SOTU speech: As Chicagoans affected by President Donald Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz” sat as guests in the U.S. House chamber, the president declared the country was in a “golden age” and boasted about border security, tax cuts and his targeted enforcement of those who lack legal status.
Key takeaways: During his nearly two-hour speech, Trump bashed the U.S. Supreme Court — with four justices in attendance — and promised to ignore the high court’s ruling last week striking down his tariffs. He said tariffs could replace income taxes, though that is not a serious policy proposal. He also claimed to have brought down grocery prices, which is not the case in Chicago. Find more takeaways here. For a fact check, NPR has annotated the speech.
Inside the House: U.S. Reps. Ilan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich) both shouted at Trump from their seats, as Trump talked about illegal immigration and doubled down on attacking so-called Democratic sanctuary cities, including Chicago. U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, a Democrat from Naperville, left the chamber during the speech. So did Rep. Al Green (D-Texas). Sen. Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley, Sean Casten, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky and Eric Sorensen boycotted the address.
Local guests: U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia brought Marimar Martinez, a woman shot five times by U.S. Border Patrol agents, as his guest. U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi brought University of Illinois at Chicago student Jaime Coria Jr., whose father was detained and sent to Mexico City.
CITY HALL 🏛️
City must refund millions for ticket overcharges
By Fran Spielman
Refund incoming?: Thousands of Chicago motorists ticketed and overcharged for more than a decade for parking, city sticker and other compliance violations could be in line for nearly $104 million in refunds at City Hall’s expense after a judge’s ruling in a class action lawsuit.
The ruling: Circuit Judge William Sullivan put cash-strapped Chicago firmly on the hook for $69.6 million in overcharges and $34 million in interest on more than a million tickets issued by the city between 2012 and 2022, after determining the city violated state law by applying penalties that exceeded a $250 cap on such fines. Sullivan’s Feb. 19 ruling also wipes out $93.8 million in fines and fees not yet collected. Separating out the accumulated interest, the total in illegally assessed fines and penalties adds up to roughly $163 million.
Appeal incoming: The city’s Law Department issued a statement saying City Hall is considering an appeal of Sullivan’s decision.
NATION AND WORLD ✶
Stranded Chicagoans in Mexico now have options to fly home after cartel violence
By Nader Issa and Violet Miller
Path home: Chicagoans visiting Mexican cities this weekend who were jarred by cartel violence now have hope of returning home, as road blockages are gradually cleared and airport operations begin to resume.
Key context: The unrest in the state of Jalisco comes after the Mexican Army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” on Feb. 22. That led to 48 hours of lockdowns and uncertainty. Mexico deployed thousands of troops to quell clashes sparked by the killing, which left more than 70 people dead, according to the Associated Press.
Chicagoan’s POV: Beckie Menzie landed in Puerto Vallarta on Saturday night, ready for a week of teaching music to eager students. But she woke the next morning to what sounded like gunshots and firebombs being thrown into empty vehicles, as smoke rose citywide. She and others had to shelter in another building as more bombs went off.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- Pappas accused of abuse: The chief executive of a major contractor alleged Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas repeatedly subjected company executives to bullying, threats and “obscenity-filled tirades.”
- Woman charged in driver’s death: Montoya Perry is expected in court Wednesday after being accused of fatally dragging Uber Eats driver Daniel L. Figueroa with his delivery van, which she allegedly stole after he’d delivered food to a doctor at Loretto Hospital in Austin.
- Hearing set: Tommy Schaefer is scheduled to appear in a U.S. court Thursday for the first time since Sheila von Wiese-Mack’s body was found in a suitcase outside a Bali hotel in 2014. He faces conspiracy charges related to the slaying.
- Hotel Florence redevelopment: Gov. JB Pritzker announced a roughly $100 million project to transform the nearly 145-year-old Pullman hotel and its surrounding area. The vision includes a boutique hotel, new restaurants and a music venue.
- Portillo’s pushes pause: The chain said Tuesday that economic headwinds dampened business last year and is slowing national expansion plans.
REV. JACKSON ✶
Jackson family invites 5 U.S. presidents to services honoring civil rights leader
By Tina Sfondeles
All invited: Five American presidents — President Donald Trump and former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden and George W. Bush — have been invited to services next week commemorating civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson in Washington, South Carolina and Chicago. It’s unclear which events the presidents will attend.
Tentative plans: Details on the events in South Carolina, where Jackson was born, and Washington are still being finalized but will happen between Sunday and March 5.
In Chicago: Jackson will lie in repose Thursday and Friday at Rainbow PUSH’s Kenwood headquarters, 930 E. 50th St. Services both days will start 10 a.m. The March 6 “People’s Celebration” at the House of Hope, 752 E. 114th St., will begin at 10 a.m. Private homegoing services are scheduled for 10 a.m. March 7 at Rainbow PUSH, with limited capacity.
More Jackson headlines:
- For Jackson, economic justice and civil rights were intertwined
- When Jackson took on the Academy Awards
- Jackson’s vision for America embraced environmental justice
BEARS STADIUM 🏈
No matter where Bears end up, Chicago wants $630M to renovate Soldier Field
By Fran Spielman and Mitchell Armentrout
Post-dome demands: Chicago is no longer part of the conversation to build the domed stadium needed to keep the Bears in Illinois and stave off a move to Indiana. But the Chicago Park District wants a piece of the action — if the team scores the state help it needs to build a dome in Arlington Heights.
The ask: With or without the Bears, the Chicago Park District wants $630 million to renovate and refresh Soldier Field and ease the transportation bottleneck that makes it difficult to get in and out of the Museum Campus. The revamp would come as Chicago taxpayers remain saddled with $467 million in outstanding debt linked to the 2001 renovation of Soldier Field.
ELECTIONS ☑️
Frustrated Illinois congressional candidates call super PAC influence ‘buying a seat’
By Tina Sfondeles
PAC mentality: Super PACs, or political action committees, benefitting cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence and Israel are actively working to influence Illinois congressional races. And candidates in four already competitive and crowded districts aren’t happy.
Their take: The candidates are likening super PAC support to buying a seat and to dark money bombardment. Others are accusing Democrats of being beholden to interests that will benefit the Trump administration — a clearly unpopular issue for Democrats in a primary. Speaking out are Reed Showalter, running in the 7th District; Junaid Ahmed, running in the 8th; and State Sen. Robert Peters, running in the 2nd. “It seems like easy pickings for the types of giant corporate interest that wants to come in and spend,” Showalter said.
FROM THE PRESS BOX 🏈⚽⚾
- How to build better best: Bears GM Ryan Poles must set aside attachment as he eyes potential upgrades to the roster, Jason Lieser argues.
- Fire groundbreaking: The soccer club will host a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday at the site of the new stadium at The 78, with an expected finish date expected in 2028.
- Jerry Reinsdorf’s birthday: The White Sox chairman turns 90 on Wednesday and there’d be no better gift than a season of improvement for his team, writes Daryl Van Schouwen.
- Strong reactions: Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong riled up Dodgers fans with his comments — an indication of his celebrity status now, writes Maddie Lee.
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
Singer-songwriter BJRNCK prepares for homecoming show
By Mark Braboy
There’s a new generation of songstresses emerging from the rich R&B tradition built by Black Chicagoans like Minnie Riperton and Chaka Khan.
Singer-songwriter BJRNCK is a part of this era, embarking on her first headlining tour back home to Chicago at Schubas on Wednesday, bringing to life her debut album, “A Girl Like Me.”
BJRNCK (pronounced byo͝or’nik), born Gennae Bewernick, says the show will be a dramatic, immersive experience that will showcase her album and illustrate her decadelong journey making music, complete with narrations and skits.
“My album is like ‘Girl, I’ve been there too,’ but we’re learning. It’s like therapy albums. I want the show to feel like that. What would Beyoncé do if she performed at Schubas?” BJRNCK said.
Born in Los Angeles, where she is based now, BJRNCK and her family moved to the South Side when she was 6 years old. She grew up in the Altgeld Gardens housing projects and later moved to 81st Street and King Drive in Chatham. She attended Roseland Middle School with fellow rising artists Ravyn Lenae and rapper Adamn Killa.
BJRNCK has released singles and collaborations over the last few years with stars like Saba, Chloe, Omarion and Babyface. Now, she is stepping into the spotlight.
“Some people think that I just got everything, I got all the resources, and it’s like, no, I’ve been grinding for 10 years trying to make it to this moment. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” she said.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
What better way to celebrate Chicago’s birthday than with a free hot dog at the Wiener’s Circle?
Find out if you’ve got that dog in you by completing the Sun-Times’ Chicago Mini Crossword in under 90 seconds while getting roasted by Wiener’s Circle staff. If you do, you’ll win a free Chicago dog and relish in the glory of being a real wiener! 🌭
When: 1-2:30 p.m. March 4
Where: The Wiener’s Circle, 2622 N Clark St.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
Yesterday, we asked you: What job in Chicago would you like to try just for one day if you could?
Here’s some of what you said…
“Wrigley Field manual scoreboard operator. It’s such a unique, historic job. And it would be cool to see the game from that vantage point, and a fun challenge to keep up with the scores of all the games going on.” — Mike Chamernik
“I would love to know what it is like to be the carillonneur who plays the 72-bell Rockefeller Memorial Carillon at the University of Chicago.” — Renuka Sharma
“I’d love to be an editor for the Sun-Times for a day, determining what stories get assigned, the placement of those articles and — of course — which responses to a reader question get published online and in Sunday’s edition!” — Paul Lockwood
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
The Chicago Sun-Times is a nonprofit supported by readers like you. Become a member to make stories like these free and available to everyone. Learn more at suntimes.com/member.