Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: Thousands in Illinois and nationwide are at risk of losing federal food assistance benefits because of new work rules set to begin Sunday. We look into the expanded rules and who’s affected.
🗞️ Plus: A woman shot by U.S. Customs and Border Protection here last fall asks a judge to let her release evidence, what happened at the U.S. Senate candidate debate we hosted Monday and more news you need to know.
📝 Keeping score: The Bulls lost to the Lakers, 129-118.
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⏱️: An 8-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER ❄️
Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers, a high near 13 and wind chill values as low as -7.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
New SNAP work rules leave unemployed Englewood man and thousands of others at risk
By Elvia Malagón
SNAP risk: For the last two years, Kenny Robinson Sr., 61, has been volunteering at the food pantry inside Chosen Bethel Family Ministries in Englewood. The pantry supplements $158 in monthly benefits he receives from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Like thousands of others in Illinois and nationwide, Robinson is at risk of losing SNAP benefits soon because of expanded work rules that are part of President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill approved by Congress last summer.
New rules: Starting Sunday, people up to age 64 will have to work or volunteer at least 80 hours per month to remain eligible for food assistance. The rules expanded to include people who are homeless, veterans, or parents of teens 14 and older. State officials have estimated that as many as 400,000 residents could lose SNAP benefits because of the new rules.
Limited options: Advocates have urged recipients to request an exemption before Sunday. If a person doesn’t meet the requirements, they will lose their benefits after three months and will not be able to apply again for three years. Reasons for exemptions include being pregnant, having a mental or physical condition that makes it difficult to maintain a job, or enrollment in a substance abuse treatment program.
Library food pantry: With these upcoming SNAP changes, the city has opened a new pantry inside Legler Regional Library, 115 S Pulaski Road, serving the Garfield Park area. It’s Chicago’s first food pantry in a public library.
IMMIGRATION ✶
Woman shot by Border Patrol in Chicago asks judge to let her release evidence
By Jon Seidel
Evidence request: Marimar Martinez, the woman who survived five gunshots from a Border Patrol agent in Chicago last fall, only to be criminally charged and then cleared, now wants a judge’s permission to share evidence that shows how the feds respond when “their agents use deadly force against U.S. citizens.”
The argument: Martinez’s lawyer argued Monday that top Trump administration officials continue to smear her name, and that the White House’s false narrative about her arrest has even seeped into writings by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. All the while, a standard court order bars Martinez from sharing records in her case, such as body-camera footage and electronic communications.
Bovino to leave Minneapolis: In other news, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino is expected to leave Minneapolis on Tuesday as the Trump administration reshuffles leadership of its immigration enforcement operation and scales back the federal presence there after a second fatal shooting by federal officers, the Associated Press reports.
ELECTIONS ☑️
Lt. Gov. Stratton goes on attack in debate against U.S. Reps. Kelly, Krishnamoorthi
By Mitchell Armentrout
Playing offense: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton went on the offensive Monday night against U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly in the first live-broadcast debate in the heated Democratic primary race for retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat.
At issue: Among the issues raised, Stratton criticized her fellow candidates on their campaign cash sources, including Krishnamoorthi receiving campaign contributions from an executive at a company contracted by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Krishnamoorthi defended himself, saying, “We donated it to Illinois migrant rights groups.” He later said he was the only candidate who has “actually done the hard work of trying to hold ICE accountable.”
The debate: The three frontrunners for the highest-profile race on the March 17 primary ballot met Monday in an hourlong debate hosted by the Sun-Times, WBEZ, and UChicago’s Institute of Politics and International House. You can watch the full debate here or read our full recap.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- Warlord owner in court: Trevor B. Fleming, owner of the popular Avondale restaurant Warlord, was served with an order of protection Monday — his second in about a year involving a co-worker — after being accused of sharing sexual images of a former girlfriend and colleague without her consent.
- Teacher fired: Brett Smith, a teacher with a long record of child molestation charges and convictions who had worked in at least four Chicago-area Catholic schools since 2024, was fired last week by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
- 6 Catholic schools to close: Citing declining enrollment and ongoing financial losses, the Archdiocese of Chicago plans to close St. Bruno and St. Richard in Archer Heights, St. Jerome in Armour Square, St. Francis Borgia in Dunning, and St. Stanislaus Kostka in West Town.
- Budget assessment: The $16.6 billion 2026 budget approved by a City Council majority puts the burden on taxpayers, gives labor a pass and falls short on cost-cutting, a new report from the Civic Federation warns.
- Remembering Larry Hart: Mr. Hart poured his multidisciplinary artistic talents into fostering the Off-Loop theater movement in the ‘60s, ‘70s and beyond. He died Jan. 4 at age 81.
- Midwest’s literary might: “Lingering Inland: A Literary Tour of the Midwest” is a new collection of essays inspired by writers’ encounters with the places that make up Midwestern literature. The book aims to connect readers with places dear to the region’s writers.
MUST-READ COMMENTARY 🗣️
January still stings 20 years after my dad’s death
By Rummana Hussain
As anyone who has lost a loved one knows, there is no moving on from the grief — only soldiering on in spite of it.
_____
Uptown Poetry Slam founder faces the wilderness, live onstage
By Neil Steinberg
Marc Kelly Smith thought he’d retire to a small town in western Illinois. Instead, he’s onstage in Chicago, reciting his poetry and talking about his life.
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Warming up on the lakefront during a cold winter day
By Natalie Y. Moore
The Fire and Ice Sauna Experience on North Avenue Beach is among the new winter saunas that have opened up in Chicago.
FROM THE PRESS BOX 🏈🏒🏀
- The Wright choice: Cornerback Nahshon Wright, who a year ago was a practice squad player for the Vikings, became the Bears’ latest selection to the NFC Pro Bowl team.
- Hawkish moves: The Blackhawks sent rookie Nick Lardis to the AHL, a forward-group shakeup amid a scoring drought.
- Boys basketball: The season’s biggest events have provided a platform and opportunity for the area’s most promising high school boys basketball stars, writes Joe Henricksen.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
Today’s clue: 1D: ___ ___… Don’t Tell Me! (NPR show that tapes in the Fine Arts Building)
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
In bitter cold, Polar Adventure Days goes on as planned at Northerly Island Park
By Erica Thompson
Rosy-cheeked children and men with icicles in their beards battled the bitter cold for a few hours of fun at Northerly Island Park on Saturday.
They built forts out of recycled Christmas trees, watched an ice sculptor chisel a snow owl, balanced on a slack line tightrope, and cheered on huskies sledding around the park. In the warmth of the field house, they engaged in arts and crafts, watched a puppet show by Jabberwocky Marionettes, and met reptiles including a lizard, a boa constrictor and a snapping turtle. And they consumed copious amounts of hot chocolate.
The events were part of the Chicago Park District’s free annual Polar Adventure Days, which made its return to Northerly Island Park for the first time since the field house was damaged by a fire in 2023. A second event will take place Feb. 21 at Big Marsh Park.
The low temperature Saturday morning was 4 degrees with a wind chill of minus 25. But participants happily embraced the cold, praising the benefits of the day of activities: Fresh air, natural beauty and a break from technology.
“Life doesn’t stop,” said Richard Carrillo, of the East Side, who attended the event with his wife, Laura Macias, and their 5-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. “It’s Chicago. The children have to learn the cold.”
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
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Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
Hat tip: Sun-Times’ Joel Carlson for today’s preview copy which you’ll find on the front page of today’s Chicago Sun-Times print edition. Find it on newsstands and online here.
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