Good morning, Chicago. \u2736<\/h3>\n
\ud83d\udd0e Below<\/b>: Two teen brothers from West Chicago have spent the last few weeks documenting federal agents in Minneapolis. We learn about what they\u2019ve seen and why they\u2019re there.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f Plus<\/b>: Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust fails, a longtime lobbyist considers challenging Mayor Brandon Johnson, and more news you need to know.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcdd Keeping score<\/b>: The Bulls lost to the Heat<\/a>, 134-91.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udce7 Subscribe<\/b>: Get this newsletter delivered to your inbox weekday mornings.<\/a><\/p>\n \u23f1\ufe0f: An 8-minute read<\/i><\/p>\n Mostly cloudy with a chance of flurries and a high near 30.<\/p>\n From left, teenage brothers Ben and Sam Luhmann have spent the last few weeks documenting federal agents in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Documenting the feds: A day after a federal immigration agent fatally shot Renee Macklin Good on Jan. 7, 17-year-old Ben Luhmann and his 16-year-old brother Sam drove from their West Chicago home to Minneapolis with the goal of documenting agents\u2019 actions. The Luhmann brothers often show up at protest sites and trail immigration agents\u2019 vehicles. <\/p>\n What they\u2019ve seen: The brothers have gathered footage of top U.S. Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino throwing a tear gas canister into a crowd, immigration agents slipping and falling on ice, and an agent pepper-spraying a man inches from his face while other agents pin him to the ground. <\/p>\n Their motivation: Some of their clips \u2014 they upload all footage to a publicly accessible Google Drive folder \u2014 have gone viral. The brothers, born in Minneapolis and now home-schooled, said it was an easy decision to throw themselves into situations that have left immigrant communities traumatized and scared. The way they see it, they\u2019re helping neighbors, and they\u2019re heartened by watching others do the same.<\/p>\n Key quote: \u201cI think that level of empathy and that level of care is like the peak of humanity, and the peak of who we could be as a people,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Hundreds march Friday through the Loop during a national shutdown protest demanding the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/p>\n Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust\u2019s office at 9 E. Ontario St.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n First of 2026<\/b>: State regulators closed Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust on Friday, marking the first bank failure in the United States in 2026. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation ordered the River North-based bank\u2019s closure due to concerns over its financial stability.<\/p>\n Key point<\/b>: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was named receiver and brokered the sale of most of the bank\u2019s $261 million in assets to First Independence Bank in Detroit, including all deposits. Customers still have immediate access to their money, and loan customers\u2019 payments are still due.<\/p>\n Key context<\/b>: Only two banks tanked nationwide last year \u2014 including Chicago\u2019s Pulaski Savings Bank.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Gov. JB Pritzker endorses Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton\u2019s bid for the U.S. Senate on April 25, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/p>\n Pat Nabong\/Sun-Times file<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Friendly boost<\/b>: Gov. JB Pritzker has given $5 million to a super PAC supporting his longtime running mate, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, in her bid for the U.S. Senate, answering critics who questioned whether he would help boost her candidacy financially.<\/p>\n PAC man<\/b>: The self-funding billionaire governor is the top contributor to the Illinois Future PAC, which Stratton\u2019s opponent, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, has tried to label a \u201cdark-money\u201d group. A Federal Election Commission report filed Saturday shows the political action committee\u2019s contributions; it reported raising $6.3 million through the end of 2025.<\/p>\n Key context<\/b>: As the run-up to the March 17 primary continues, Krishnamoorthi, Stratton and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly are now airing ads in the race for the open seat now held by Sen. Dick Durbin, who is retiring after five terms.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Gino & Marty\u2019s Italian, 844 W. Randolph St.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/p>\n Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times file<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Lobbyist John Kelly is weighing a run for mayor of Chicago.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Meet John Kelly<\/b>: One of Mayor Brandon Johnson\u2019s challengers in the 2027 mayoral election could be longtime lobbyist John Kelly. If elected, Kelly would have to deal with a significant list of potential conflicts of interest \u2014 largely because a number of his existing lobbying clients intersect with City Hall.<\/p>\n Potential conflicts<\/b>: Among the potential conflicts of interest are the White Sox and the Reinsdorf family, who own the Sox and the Bulls; United Airlines; the United Center; and Bally\u2019s. Kelly said he\u2019d handle possible conflicts by separating himself from his lobbying business, called All-Circo Inc., though it\u2019s unclear whether he would do so during the race or only if he wins.<\/p>\n Key context<\/b>: Lobbyists are part of the sometimes seedy underbelly of local, state and federal government, advocating on behalf of special interests that often cynically throw campaign money at political figures. Kelly says he performs his job honestly and won\u2019t shy away from his background.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Today\u2019s clue: 2D<\/b>: Caleb Williams or Colston Loveland, e.g.<\/p>\n PLAY NOW<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Ivan Singh will perform Monday night at SPACE in Evanston.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Ever since he was a child, raised in Cordoba, Argentina, on a soundtrack of Buddy Guy and Howlin\u2019 Wolf, Ivan Singh, 33, had his sights set on the blues capital of Chicago.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was like a Disney dream to come to Chicago,\u201d the now acclaimed musician Singh said. \u201cI felt like it was a university to come to and learn from the masters and then try to figure out my own path.\u201d<\/p>\n Singh made his first trip as a fan in 2017 after hearing about the globally recognized Chicago Blues Festival, paying for it with money he saved from teaching guitar lessons in South America, and was soon immersed in the scene.<\/p>\n \u201cThe blues community was so nice to me when I first came here,\u201d Singh recalled, expressing gratitude for luminaries and early allies like Rosa\u2019s Lounge owner Tony Mangiullo and Buddy Guy. They were intrigued by what Singh was dishing out a unique blend of Latin blues sung in Spanglish and played on a homemade guitar he calls the \u201cLata de Batata\u201d \u2014 \u201ccan of sweet potatoes\u201d \u2014 and offered invitations to take the stage and jam.<\/p>\n Nowadays, Singh has amplified his arsenal and works with Gibson Guitars, wielding the instrument to create his unique music style \u2014 rounded out by a six-piece band and horn section \u2014 that offers a kaleidoscopic mirage of his learned experience.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Where\u2019s your favorite place to take a winter weather walk in the Chicago area Tell us why.<\/b><\/p>\n Email your answer here.<\/i><\/a> (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.<\/i><\/p>\n Thanks for reading the Sun-Times Morning Edition! Written and curated by<\/b>: Matt Moore 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 <\/i>suntimes.com\/member<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\nTODAY\u2019S WEATHER \ud83c\udf25\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
TODAY\u2019S TOP STORY \ud83d\udd0e<\/h4>\n
West Chicago teens go on ICE watch in Minneapolis<\/a><\/h3>\n
By Mary Norkol<\/a> and Anna Savchenko<\/a><\/h5>\n
MORE ON IMMIGRATION \u2736<\/h4>\n
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MONEY \ud83c\udfe6<\/h4>\n
![\"Metropolitan](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7ed2a57\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7008x4672+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F81%2F82%2F3ac99cfa4b878ced8e07e44d08da%2Fbankfailure-260102-3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/picture>\nChicago bank fails, becoming first in nation to go under in 2026<\/a><\/h3>\n
By Cindy Hernandez<\/a><\/h5>\n
ELECTIONS \u2611\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/picture>\nPritzker gives $5 million to boost Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton\u2019s Senate bid<\/a><\/h3>\n
By Tina Sfondeles<\/a><\/h5>\n
MORE NEWS YOU NEED \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
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POLITICS \u2736<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/picture>\nLongtime lobbyist who solicits City Hall for powerful clients weighs mayoral run<\/a><\/h3>\n
By Robert Herguth<\/a><\/h5>\n
FROM THE PRESS BOX \ud83c\udfc0\ud83c\udfd2<\/h4>\n
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CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD \ud83c\udf2d<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nBRIGHT ONE \ud83d\udd06<\/h4>\n
![\"Ivan](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/60b7226\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4096x2926+0+0\/resize\/840x600!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F94%2Fc0%2F8de5c63d4e17b70aa522951fe53c%2F432397983-1528583334588998-6805594405169676435-n.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/picture>\nBlues guitarist Ivan Singh has found his place in Chicago<\/a><\/h3>\n
By Selena Fragassi<\/a><\/h5>\n
DAILY QUESTION \u2615\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.<\/a><\/p>\n
Editor<\/b>: Eydie Cubarrubia<\/p>\n