Good morning, Chicago. This wasn’t the speech Jose Wilson had hoped to give after making a run for Democratic committeeperson in Chicago’s 1st Ward. Two months before votes were cast in the March primary, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners booted Wilson from the ballot. Though Wilson had turned in nearly 1,700 signatures on his nominating petitions — knocking on doors for weeks last fall and winter — one of his rivals torpedoed Wilson’s candidacy by successfully challenging enough of those signatures to keep him off the ballot. And so, at a sparsely attended January hearing inside a sterile government conference room, Wilson rose to deliver his last speech of the race, directing his frustration at a cutthroat Illinois balloting process a Tribune investigation found is overly complicated, limits voters’ choices and contributes to corruption that plagues government throughout the state. “I don’t think it’s fair,” Wilson told election board members. “I don’t think it’s clear. I don’t think it’s transparent.” It is, however, a system firmly entrenched in Illinois, one that makes it harder for people to qualify for the ballot than in many states and easier to get kicked off. Read the full story from the Tribune’s Joe Mahr. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day. Subscribe to more newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Today’s eNewspaper edition Bill Schandelmeier, 63, is pointed in the right direction by an election judge after casting his vote during the first day of early voting at the Illinois Board of Elections Loop Supersite at 191 N. Clark St. in Chicago, Oct. 3, 2024. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Amid false claims, Illinois elections officials push integrity, transparency — and maybe body armor The roughly 100 men and women who oversee elections in Illinois — both Democrats and Republicans — have launched a voter integrity campaign to help debunk falsehoods being fed in large part by lies from former President Donald Trump and his allies that the 2020 election was stolen. But even as the elections officials open their offices for tours and make themselves available for questions about the voting process and the equipment they are using to count ballots for the Nov. 5 election, the head of their state association said he is considering purchasing body armor amid fears the conspiracy theories will turn physical. A “Save Logan Correctional Center” sign is displayed in the store window of Guest House Coffee and Pastries at dawn in Lincoln, Illinois, on Oct. 3, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune) Loss of prison would be latest blow to downstate Lincoln, a town christened with watermelon juice by Old Abe himself Just outside the limits of the city of Lincoln, the only city in the nation named for Abraham Lincoln before he became president, sits the Logan Correctional Center, a multi-level security prison for women. The prospect of losing Logan and the nearly 500 jobs it provides would be the latest blow to a town of a little more than 13,000 residents that in recent years has lost a number of local institutions, including two colleges and a state developmental center. A Valparaiso police officer, who wishes to be unidentified, won $160k in settlements from Porter County and the City of Valparaiso over sexual harassment she endured on the Porter County Multi-Enforcement Group. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune) Valparaiso cop joins special task force, but on-the-job harassment forces her out. ‘It was too much.’ Whatever the Valparaiso Police officer expected when she walked into a room for an interview with the Porter County Multi-Enforcement Group, it wasn’t what she got. The officers conducting the interview, representing police departments from throughout the county, asked her whom she would kill; have sexual relations with, though her interviewers used an expletive; and marry if given the choice between the sheriff and the Valparaiso and Portage police chiefs. Ruth Chepngetich, from Kenya, runs with the Kenyan flag after crossing the finish line of the Chicago Marathon to win the women’s professional division and break the women’s marathon world record on Oct. 13, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune) From drag shows to makeshift breakfast buffets and a chicken costume, spectators bring energy to Chicago Marathon Cheers, music and cowbells are not Chicago’s typical Sunday morning soundtrack, but little was typical about the city streets during the 46th Chicago Marathon. When the first wave of runners passed North Sheridan and West Diversey around 8 a.m. Sunday, the typically sleepy sidewalks were lined with spectators who got to see newly minted world-record-holder Ruth Chepngetich sprint by. Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, center, holds Rev. at Salem Baptist Church Gregory Terry’s, left, hand as he receives a COVID-19 vaccine after a Chicago Department of Public health news conference at a 9th ward COVID-19 and Flu vaccination clinic in Pullman Community Center in Chicago on Oct. 10, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune) With new COVID strain XEC spreading, Chicago health experts urge up-to-date vaccination A new COVID variant called XEC has been spreading around the globe as respiratory virus season begins — and many public health experts are concerned about a pattern of troublingly low COVID and flu vaccination rates in recent years. Alyssa Dons, left, principal of Cruz K-12, an Acero charter school in Chicago, greets parent Carina Parra after the final bell on Oct. 10, 2024. The public charter school network announced plans to close seven of its 15 schools starting next year, including Cruz K-12. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) As 7 charter schools plan to close, Chicago Teachers Union asks district to step in Thousands of students and hundreds of teachers were left in a lurch Wednesday after the Acero Charter Schools Board of Directors voted unanimously to close seven of Acero’s 15 schools, the latest turn of events during a week of turmoil for Chicago Public Schools. Four new homesites containing mansions are pictured in this rendering. (Tory Hannan) Buyers who purchased $8M Naperville mansion for record price to sell portion of site to create 4 new homesites The buyers who late last year paid what at that time was reported to be a DuPage County residential sales record amount of $8.076 million for a 9,299-square-foot Naperville mansion now have approval to sell off the easternmost 0.47-acre portion of the original acre-sized site to create four new homesites containing mansions starting at asking prices of $3 million. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams celebrates as he heads to the locker room after a victory over the Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Oct. 13, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Caleb Williams was in total control, but the Chicago Bears weren’t surprised. Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on a big win in London. The long flight home will be a smooth one after the Bears put together a complete effort, dismantling the Jacksonville Jaguars 35-16 on Sunday to win their third consecutive game for the first time since the end of the 2020 season. Here are 10 thoughts on the Week 6 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. ‘Super dynamic’ rookie quarterback Caleb Williams sends the Bears home from London on a high Column: 5 catches, 2 TDs … 6 long snaps? How Cole Kmet hit a curveball in the Bears’ blowout win. Blackhawks center Connor Bedard warms up for a game against the Utah Hockey Club on Oct. 8, 2024, at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. (Bruce Bennett/Getty) Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard trying to shed his nothing-but-hockey image: ‘I’m not on the ice all day’ The Hawks are at least a little concerned about Bedard’s long-term physical and mental endurance. Believe it or not, Bedard gets it. “I mean, I’m not on the ice all day,” the 19-year-old star told the Tribune. “I take a lot of pride in taking care of my body and trying to feel the best I can every game. That’s No. 1 in the season.” 5 takeaways from the Blackhawks’ weekend, including Connor Bedard’s 1st goal and following a ‘frustrating’ loss with an upset win Harold “Red” Grange grabs the ball after the first kickoff of the Illinois-Michigan game in Oct. 1924, with teammate Wally McIlwain at his side. Grange began a sprint that took him over 95 yards down field for a touchdown. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) A football fan’s Valhalla: Red Grange christened Memorial Stadium 100 years ago and became an Illini legend One hundred years ago this week, Red Grange took the opening kickoff of the Illinois-Michigan football game on the Fighting Illini’s 5-yard line and zigzagged through 11 frustrated defenders to score a touchdown, giving 65,000 fans a down payment on the thrill show they were expecting when they headed to Champaign’s new stadium from all directions. “The Man Who Cried I Am” by John A. Williams, “A Different Drummer” by William Melvin Kelley and “The Wig” by Charles Wright. (Anchor/Library of America) Biblioracle: John A. Williams deserves to be in the literary canon. Here’s why. John Warner wants to talk about the literary canon, the texts that have been judged to be worthwhile and enduring and therefore deserving of special status in our culture. He also wants to talk about the writing of John A. Williams. Chicago Tribune’s Holiday Cookie Contest. Support your favorite cookie recipe by voting in the Tribune’s 2024 Holiday Cookie Contest Your recipes are in and now it’s time to vote for which mouthwatering treats will make it to the final round of the Tribune’s 2024 Holiday Cookie Contest.