Stories by Quinn Myers

Illinois State Sen. Iris Martinez has won the Democratic primary for clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court. Martinez topped the four-way race with 31.4% of the vote. 

Snowdrop, crocus, hyacinth and other early spring bloomers are cheering up the gloomy landscape.

The man who two years ago was appointed to fill the shoes of longtime Illinois Supreme Court Justice Charles Freeman is in position to keep that seat for another decade. But there are reportedly thousands of votes that remain uncounted.

Because Chicago is the storefront theater capital of this country, it’s worth looking at the situation now facing some of these small companies and how they are trying to deal with the global pandemic.

Joe Biden swept to victory in Florida, Illinois and Arizona on Tuesday, increasingly pulling away with a Democratic presidential primary upended by the coronavirus and building pressure on Bernie Sanders to abandon his campaign.

In her victory speech Tuesday night, the Cook County state’s attorney said there was an effort to make the primary election about one celebrity case (without specifically calling out Jussie Smollett) but that “the voters have overwhelmingly put that fallacy to rest.”

Challenger Marie Newman has defeated long-serving U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, and the Republican challengers for first-term Democrats Lauren Underwood and Sean Casten are set. Where else things stand across congressional districts.

The coronavirus pandemic has altered daily life in every way, from increasing financial worries and food insecurity to simply upending routines. How can people adjust to a new normal in the face of all these new worries?

A day that started out with confusion and low voter turnout looks to be ending with relatively few lingering problems, and turnout numbers that approach typical primary elections. 

As of Tuesday, 63 of the 160 people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus in Illinois are Chicago residents, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. We get the latest from CDPH Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady.

At least one St. Patrick’s Day tradition is alive and well in these topsy-turvy times. Animals at Brookfield Zoo received special shamrock-shaped treats on Tuesday.

A Chicago woman in her 60s marks the first reported death in Illinois related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the death Tuesday, as confirmed cases across the state grew to 160.

Watch the March 17, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Exasperated Chicago election officials say they urged Gov. J.B. Pritzker to postpone Tuesday’s election, close all polling places and move to mail-in balloting, but Pritzker rejected the idea.

Nothing is certain in the age of the coronavirus. Three states scheduled to vote after Tuesday postponed their primaries. Ohio scrapped its Tuesday vote, while Arizona, Florida and Illinois vowed to push ahead.

Illinois hospitals are postponing elective surgeries, reconfiguring their emergency rooms and are making extra space in their intensive care units as they prepare for a spike in patients suffering from novel coronavirus. 

Neighbors in Bucktown suggested hanging shamrocks in windows for a DIY scavenger hunt, and Lincoln Square grabbed onto the idea. Who else wants in?

The Chicago Board of Elections is pleading with the public in order to find election judges for Tuesday’s primary. Our politics team takes on that story and more election news in this week’s roundtable.

U.S. stocks plunged nearly 13% Monday. As bars and restaurants in Illinois close to dine-in customers, we analyze the economic impact of the coronavirus.

In the midst of cancelations and closures, an art exhibit remains open, for a limited time, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Black ABCs. Since the 1970s, these letters have been used in public schools around the country. 

Restaurants have closed for dine-in business. Schools are shuttered. Gatherings should be limited. How big a difference will these rules make? We speak with an infectious disease doctor about the new recommendations.

Illinois restaurants and bars are preparing for their last call for dine-in business until at least the end of the month. Meanwhile, grocers big and small are scrambling to restock shelves.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a new mandate Monday in the fight against spread of the coronavirus. Gatherings of 50 people or more should be canceled, he said, citing guidelines announced Sunday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chicago Public Schools buildings will only be open to provide food and enrichment activity supplies to families during COVID-19 closures. 

Concerns over the spread of the coronavirus have a lot of people working from home, schools closed, restaurants shuttered and sports canceled. Can we even go outside? Yes, say the experts, but still practice social distance.

Watch the March 16, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”