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The first day of school is complete for Chicago Public Schools students. CPS and the mayor's office say they plan to build on what they see as last year's successes. Brandis Friedman breaks down the city's plans.

Welcome to Chicago Tonight’s online coverage of Illinois' 2014 March Primary Elections. We’ve gathered information here about the growing Republican and Democrat fields, and some of the key issues in the races. You can read profiles of the candidates, view timelines of their careers, and catch all of their appearances on Chicago Tonight. Early voting started March 3 and the general primary is on Tuesday, March 18.

Candidate Forums:

Wednesday, March 5: GOP Senate Forum: Doug Truax (Jim Oberweis declined our invitation to participate)

Thursday, March 6: Lt. Governor Forum: Maria Rodriguez, Steve Kim, Jil Tracy, Evelyn Sanguinetti

Monday, March 10: GOP Treasurer Forum: Tom Cross and Bob Grogan

Thursday, March 13: GOP Governor Forum: Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Bruce Rauner, Dan Rutherford

Welcome to Chicago Tonight’s online coverage of the 2014 race for Illinois Treasurer. You can read profiles of the candidates and catch all of their appearances on Chicago Tonight.

Tuesday, Oct. 21: Illinois Treasurer Forum

Welcome to Chicago Tonight’s online coverage of the 2014 race for the U.S. Senate. You can read profiles of the candidates, view timelines of their careers, and catch all of their appearances on Chicago Tonight.

Wednesday, Oct. 22: U.S. Senate Candidate Forum

Mike Webster is a Republican running for Secretary of State against incumbent Jesse White.

We break down President Obama’s State of the Union address with Northwestern Law Senior Lecturer Jason DeSanto. Watch the address.

Tio Hardiman joins us, along with his running mate, to talk about his run for Illinois governor. View a timeline of his career.

Carol Marin takes a look at the state of the race for Illinois governor with Dave McKinney, Springfield Bureau Chief for the Chicago Sun-Times, Amanda Vinicky, Illinois Public Radio and WUIS Statehouse Bureau Chief, and Mark Anderson, NBC-5 Chicago's Ward Room political blogger.

Judy Baar Topinka is running for re-election as Illinois Comptroller in 2014.

Sheila Simon is running against Judy Baar Topinka for Illinois Comptroller in 2014.

Mike Frerichs is throwing his hat in the ring for Illinois Treasurer in 2014.

Bob Grogan is throwing his hat in the ring for Illinois Treasurer in 2014.

Tom Cross is throwing his hat in the ring for Illinois Treasurer in 2014.

Jesse White is Illinois' current Secretary of State.

Paul Schimpf is running against Lisa Madigan for Illinois Attorney General in 2014.

We chat with Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Rep. Mike Quigley about the bipartisan budget deal and what major issues are still on the table in 2014.