Good afternoon, Chicago.
In a surprising loss for criminal justice reform advocates, Democrats were unable to pass legislation providing more resentencing options for people in prison convicted of committing crimes when they were under 21.
The bill not only was a setback for advocates but also underscored a political divide between progressives and moderates within the Democratic Party, which has a supermajority in the House. The measure sponsored by Chicago Democratic state Rep. Theresa Mah was defeated late yesterday 51-49 — 11 votes short of passage as several Democrats, including from the suburbs and downstate, either voted against the bill or did not vote at all.
Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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Hundreds crowd Deerfield school board meeting over transgender student dispute
The meeting followed the announcement by American First Legal, a conservative nonprofit, that it had filed a complaint with the criminal section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division urging it to investigate District 109 and its administrators over an alleged incident of female students at Shepard Middle School being forced by staffers to change in front of a transgender girl, an allegation the district has denied. Read more here.
More top news stories:
- City Council blocks $1.25 million settlement for Dexter Reed’s family
- ‘I’ve been nothing but transparent’: Former UIC student speaks out after his visa was revoked
Trying to find its footing, Portillo’s takes breakfast for a test run
The trial breakfast menu — which will be available daily at five Chicago-area restaurants starting April 15 — comes as the homegrown chain has struggled at times to find its footing amid ambitious national expansion plans. Read more here.
More top business stories:
- Commercial real estate executive was the buyer in Chicago’s highest-priced single-family sale last year
- Troubled Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan hires new CEO from within
NFL mock draft 2.0: Who will the Chicago Bears select with the No. 10 pick?
Offseason moves have led GM Ryan Poles to feel like the Chicago Bears can lean toward the best player available in the 2025 NFL draft. Read more here.
More top sports stories:
- A Chicago Bulls hat triggered a man’s deportation — and profiling of such apparel and tattoos could be on the rise
- Chicago Cubs acquire reliever Tom Cosgrove in trade and send him to Triple-A Iowa
Review: Twyla Tharp Dance celebrates 60 years with something old, something new in stunning night at the Harris
For “Slacktide” — which forms the back half of Twyla Tharp’s 60th anniversary “Diamond Jubilee” running through Saturday at the Harris Theater — the prolific choreographer revisited composer Philip Glass for the first time since “In the Upper Room.” Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
- Review: For Jack White’s set at the Salt Shed, rock ‘n’ roll was alive and well
- Review: In its remake of the TV series, ‘Smash’ on Broadway is anything but
China hits back at US and will raise tariffs on American goods from 84% to 125%
China announced today that it will raise tariffs on U.S. goods from 84% to 125% — the latest salvo in an escalating trade war between the world’s two largest economies that has rattled markets and raised fears of a global slowdown. Read more here.
More top stories from around the world: