💰 How sportsbetting is stacking the primaries

Tenants Near Obama Center Fight to Stay in Building

The Chaney Braggs Apartments on 65th Street has been foreclosed on, and residents have formed a tenant union. They say a prospective out-of-town buyer is offering cash for people to move out. The impending opening of the Obama Presidential Center, slated for June, has long had neighbors worried about gentrification. [WBEZ]

Layoff Notices Posted for ASPIRA High Schools

After resisting closure, the charter network notified staff it would shut down two high school campuses by April 3. This announcement comes after a period of confusion for students and families. Last week, Chicago Public Schools said it would begin transitioning students out of ASPIRA due to the charter’s financial issues, but interim CPS CEO Macquline King said it couldn’t move ahead until ASPIRA decided to close. Students are now expected to transfer to district schools. [Chalkbeat]

• Dive deeper: These are the issues plaguing Chicago’s charter schools. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

New Grocery Store Coming to Auburn Gresham

Breaking ground today, K Fresh Foods will replace a former liquor store at 81st and Halsted. The $4 million development is spearheaded by nonprofit The Kindness Campaign and promises “Whole Foods’ quality at Aldi’s prices.” The store is slated to open in November. [Block Club]

• Related: Grocery store closures have plagued Chicago’s South and West sides for years. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Where Jesse Jackson Was Laid to Rest

Thousands of people, including three former presidents, gathered for Rev. Jesse Jackson’s funeral Friday. Buried in Oak Woods Cemetery, Jackson will be in esteemed company: journalist and civil rights leader Ida B. Wells, Olympian Jesse Owens, and former Mayor Harold Washington are all interred at the South Side cemetery. The architecturally significant site was once the subject of protest and a civil rights victory. [Sun-Times]

With primary day just a week away, big money is rolling into Illinois elections. Some of the largest spenders include pro-Israel groups, tech companies, and sportsbetting interests.

• Tracing the money: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has poured $13.7 million into congressional races. But a lot of that is through super PACs that don’t obviously appear AIPAC-affiliated. Elect Chicago Women, a new group with AIPAC ties, has spent $2.8 million on behalf of state Sen. Laura Fine and another $1.3 million against Evanston mayor Daniel Biss in the open 9th District race. [Axios]
• Smaller races aren’t immune: Sportsbetting behemoth DraftKings has sunk $1.2 million into Democratic general assembly primaries. Local lawmakers have repeatedly raised sportsbetting taxes to plug budget holes. [In These Times]
• Will money influence policy? Meta is also spending about $750,000 on statehouse primaries as lawmakers consider data center regulation and social media taxes. Some candidates supported by the tech company say the money won’t change their positions. But opponents are skeptical. [Tribune 🔒]
• On the other hand: When asked if they would support putting strict conditions on U.S. military aid to Israel, AIPAC-backed candidates would not answer yes or no. [WBEZ]
• But remember: Super PACs are not allowed to coordinate with candidates on spending.
• Which candidates are benefiting most? We dive deeper into the specific races and candidates affected by big spending on today’s podcast. [City Cast Chicago]