Good morning, Chicago. \u2736<\/h3>\n
\ud83d\udd0e Below<\/b>: Family members hoping to bring spouses or other relatives to the U.S. are caught in legal limbo that began in January when the Trump administration paused immigrant visas for 75 countries.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f Plus<\/b>: Prosecutors detail the shooting that killed one cop and left another in critical condition, West Garfield Park\u2019s new wellness center aims tackles the \u201cdeath gap\u201d and more news you need to know.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcdd Keeping score<\/b>: The Cubs fell to the Padres<\/a>, 9-7; the White Sox beat the Angels<\/a>, 8-7.<\/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 Partly cloudy with a high near 60.<\/p>\n The family of slain Chicago police officer John Bartholomew arrives Monday for a court hearing.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/p>\n Anthony Vazquez\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Details emerge<\/b>: Prosecutors during a hearing Monday said a convicted felon somehow took a gun into Swedish Hospital after he was arrested for armed robbery, then pulled it from under a blanket after undressing and shot two Chicago cops, killing officer John Bartholomew, 38, and leaving another in critical condition. <\/p>\n Charges brought<\/b>: Alphanso Talley, 26, of South Shore, faces a host of charges including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping, police said in a news release Monday. He was ordered detained at Cook County Jail. His next court date is Thursday. Also on Monday, federal prosecutors charged a woman<\/a> with making a false statement while purchasing the 10 mm Glock pistol used in the shooting Saturday.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/p>\n Ashlee Rezin\/Sun-Times file<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Conviction upheld<\/b>: A Chicago federal appeals court on Monday pointed to a hidden scheme to \u201cexchange enormous political influence within the Illinois General Assembly for over $3 million of benefits\u201d as it upheld the historic conviction of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.<\/p>\n Fight not finished<\/b>: A three-judge panel summarily dismissed arguments from the once powerful Democrat\u2019s lawyers in a 29-page opinion less than three weeks after hearing oral arguments. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling could soon lead to a bid by Madigan to the U.S. Supreme Court.<\/p>\n Mayor\u2019s IG pick<\/b>: In related news, Mayor Brandon Johnson\u2019s choice to be Chicago\u2019s new inspector general is David Glockner, a former federal prosecutor who helped ComEd dig out of the federal corruption scandal that culminated in Madigan\u2019s conviction<\/a>. Johnson\u2019s choice still needs City Council\u2019s backing.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n The Tonelli family is separated and stuck in legal limbo because the Trump administration has paused immigrant visas.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Visa pause<\/b>: Immigrant rights advocates estimate at least 300,000 people in Illinois are affected by the Trump administration\u2019s Jan. 21 pause on immigrant visas for nationals from 75 countries that the administration calls \u201chigh-risk.\u201d The list includes 26 countries in Africa as well as Brazil, Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Cuba.<\/p>\n The impact<\/b>: The pause affects every category of immigrant visas, including those that allow U.S. citizens to legally bring a spouse, fianc\u00e9, child and other family members to the U.S. For families trying to reunite through legal pathways, the result has been a confusing limbo that is not only stressful but can also cost them thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n Key quote<\/b>: \u201cIt\u2019s been agonizing every day, just waiting and wondering when my wife will finally be able to come home,\u201d said Mark Tonelli, who is trying to move his wife and stepson from Brazil to the U.S.<\/p>\n More on immigration<\/b>: <\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Matt DeCaro\u2019s stage career spanned four decades across major stages in Chicago and around the country.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Melody Winston, senior executive at Living Fresh Market, says local businesses hurt when the number of people using SNAP drops.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n SNAP cuts loom<\/b>: Starting Friday, thousands are expected to begin losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to newly expanded work requirements. With that, business owners fear a loss of revenue.<\/p>\n Work requirements<\/b>: Recipients must show proof of volunteering or working 80 hours per month, or attempt to apply for an exemption. The expanded work rules, which now include 55- to 64-year-olds along with parents whose youngest child is 14 years or older, went into effect in February and stem from President Donald Trump\u2019s sweeping tax bill that passed last year.<\/p>\n Key info<\/b>:<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n People participate in a 2 Sisters Line Dance & Steppin workshop at the Sankofa Village Wellness Center\u2019s opening last week.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/p>\n Anthony Vazquez\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Neighborhood resource<\/b>: Dozens gathered last Thursday for the opening of the city-backed Sankofa Village Wellness Center in West Garfield Park. At the 60,000-square-foot center, residents can see a doctor or a dentist, play in the indoor gym, stroll on a walking track or get help finding a job.<\/p>\n Key context<\/b>: Sankofa Village was years in the making and created with community input to improve health disparities in West Garfield Park. In 2023, residents in this mostly Black neighborhood were expected to live until 67 years old \u2014 the lowest life expectancy in Chicago \u2014 compared to 87 in the Loop, where the majority of residents are white. Chronic disease fueled by heart disease is still the biggest driver of the so-called death gap.<\/p>\n Bigger plan<\/b>: Sankofa, which cost nearly $50 million, is part of a bigger plan to create a walkable village with other nearby investments. The idea is to keep money from leaving the area, ultimately improving conditions that contribute to how long a person can expect to live. <\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons, 9 a.m.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Say More with Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith, 10 a.m.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n LISTEN LIVE \ud83c\udfa7<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Today\u2019s clue<\/b>: 1A: Great Lakes fish<\/p>\n PLAY NOW<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Wesley Truman Daniel painted his mural under I-94 on the border of Forest Glen and Sauganash.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/p>\n Candace Dane Chambers\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n When Wesley Truman Daniel visits his old Sauganash neighborhood, or his parents travel to O\u2019Hare Airport, they drive under the highway overpass at North Forest Glen Avenue, west of North Cicero Avenue.<\/p>\n So when Forest Glen Community Club members requested proposals for a mural in that underpass, the Chicago Public Schools elementary art teacher submitted not just one, but four different designs.<\/p>\n \u201cI was raised in Sauganash,\u201d said Daniel, who now lives in Buena Park. \u201cThis is a big one.\u201d<\/p>\n Wesley Truman Daniel\u2019s mural.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/p>\n Candace Dane Chambers\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The team selected one of those designs, titled Dawn Flower Forest, to cover one of the walls under Interstate 94 on the border of Sauganash and Forest Glen. He painted it last fall.<\/p>\n The mural shows native Illinois flowers like black-eyed Susans as tall as the underpass, resembling a forest of blooms. Residents run, bike and push a child on a tire swing among the stems that stand on rolling hills of green. Shades of blue and puffy white clouds billow behind it all.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was my wife\u2019s idea to make (flowers) forest-sized and have (residents) strolling through,\u201d Daniel said.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n In Chicago, spring means every type of weather gets packed into one season. So we want to know: What\u2019s your favorite springtime activity? Give us your recommendations.<\/b><\/p>\n Reply to this newsletter<\/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 \u26c5<\/h4>\n
TODAY\u2019S TOP STORY \ud83d\udd0e<\/h4>\n
Man shot cops, killing one, after pulling gun from under blanket at hospital: Prosecutors<\/a><\/h3>\n
By Mohammad Samra<\/a>, Sophie Sherry<\/a> and Zoe Singer<\/a><\/h5>\n
USA V. MADIGAN \u2736<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/picture>\nFederal appeals court upholds ex-Speaker Michael Madigan\u2019s corruption conviction<\/a><\/h3>\n
By Jon Seidel<\/a> and Fran Spielman<\/a><\/h5>\n
IMMIGRATION \u2736<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/picture>\nAcross continents, Illinois families remain separated by Trump\u2019s immigrant visa halt<\/a><\/h3>\n
By Alma Campos<\/a><\/h5>\n
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MORE NEWS YOU NEED \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
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FOOD \ud83e\udd66<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/picture>\nCuts to SNAP food assistance starting this week worry grocers and vendors<\/a><\/h3>\n
By Elvia Malag\u00f3n<\/a><\/h5>\n
COMMUNITY RESOURCES \u2764\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/picture>\nWest Garfield Park celebrates new wellness center aimed at reducing \u2018death gap\u2019<\/a><\/h3>\n
By Kristen Schorsch<\/a><\/h5>\n
ON WBEZ 91.5 FM \ud83d\udcfb<\/h4>\n
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FROM THE PRESS BOX \u26be\ud83c\udfc8\ud83c\udfc0<\/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
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<\/p>\n<\/picture>\nArtist\u2019s wildflower mural blooms under highway near childhood home<\/a><\/h3>\n
By Genevieve Bookwalter<\/a><\/h5>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/picture>\nYOUR 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