State officials want stargazers to make Illinois their destination for the April 8 solar eclipse.

Why it matters: "Astro tourism" is the top travel trend this year, per Condé Nast Traveler, and it's expected to draw up to 269,000 estimated visitors to the state next month.

Flashback: Our last solar eclipse, in 2017, brought in more than $15 million in tourism revenue, the state's tourism head Daniel Thomas said at a recent press conference.

State of play: Illinois officials are jumping at the opportunity to cash in on eclipse mania, creating a tourism campaign and a lineup of events. They're also highlighting prime viewing locations along the path of totality, when the moon will completely obstruct direct sunlight and unveil the sun's outer atmosphere.

• Local business owners are seeking to capitalize on the demand. Searches for Airbnb rentals are surging, and listings in Carbondale — home to Southern Illinois University and along the path — go for up to $2,700 a night for stays the weekend before and during the eclipse.
• Thomas said hotel rooms and campsites are still available and that the eclipse can be viewed from more than 30 state parks.

How it works: The complete solar eclipse will unfold over about three hours, with the moon starting to cover the sun at 12:43pm CT and moving to complete obstruction by 1:59pm, according to Southern Illinois University.

• The total eclipse will last 4 minutes and 9 seconds, twice as long as the 2017 eclipse.
• Officials are reminding viewers they need to wear protective eyewear with solar lenses to prevent eye damage.

Zoom in: SIU is calling Carbondale the "Eclipse Crossroads of America" and celebrating with a four-day festival, complete with astronomy talks, music performances, "celestial connection through rhythm and dance" and, of course, a viewing from the stadium.

• Can't make it to southern Illinois? NASA TV will have telescope feeds from the campus.

What's ahead: The next solar eclipse won't happen for 20 years.

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A longtime Cook County politician is battling to unseat the Circuit Court clerk.

Why it matters: The clerk oversees and archives records for the second-largest court system in the nation.

State of play: Incumbent Iris Y. Martinez is facing a challenge from longtime Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos, who has scored the endorsement of the Cook County Democratic Party and Board of Commissioners president Toni Preckwinkle.

Context: Martinez, who says her lack of endorsement shows her independence, took over the office in 2020 following longtime controversial clerk Dorothy Brown. More than 15 years prior, she became Illinois' first Latina state senator, championing reproductive and LGBTQ rights.

• Spyropoulos, a former Cook County prosecutor and private practice attorney, has served as a MWRD commissioner for 13 years. She's pushed for independent oversight of the agency.

Follow the money: A Tribune investigation raised concerns late last year about Martinez accepting $45,000 worth of campaign donations from her employees. Martinez's campaign says the clerk has never given raises or promotions to employees "conditioned on 'pay to play' politics."

• Spyropoulos says she'd end employee campaign donations and appoint an independent watchdog for the office, which has had a history of patronage issues.

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⚖️ The Illinois Supreme Court denied a petition by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago to appeal a lower court's ruling, keeping the "Bring Chicago Home" referendum language on the March 19 ballot. (Tribune)

😷 Chicago measles cases have risen to 10, including two students at separate CPS schools. (ABC-7)

🥷 Lurie Children's Hospital is investigating whether patient data was stolen and sold online after last month's cyberattack. (NBC 5)

⚾️ The White Sox traded ace Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres for four players. (MLB)

🎵 Alanis Morissette and Carly Rae Jepsen are headlining this summer's Pitchfork Music Festival. Check out our Instagram for the lineup.

Outdoor Voices is closing its location in Lincoln Park and retail stores nationwide as the popular athleisure brand moves online, current and former employees told Axios.

Why it matters: The store joins a growing list of businesses closing in Chicago this year, including Avondale hotspot Parachute and The School House building's Grammar restaurant and coffee shop.

State of play: All items will be 50% off in Outdoor Voices' Lincoln Park store until its closure on Sunday at 5pm.

• Meanwhile, Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark are readying for the final day of their award-winning restaurant Parachute on March 23. But the owners say they're looking to open something in a different location.

More closings announced in February and March:

• 80 Proof: This Wells Street brunch and nightlife spot brought a huge boost to the sleepy neighborhood when it opened. The bar shut down in February.
• Asrai Garden: The popular Wicker Park florist and anchor in the Flatiron Arts Building is closing up shop after 25 years. They join several other building storefronts that have closed, including Santullo's and Debonair Social Club.

More closings ... Plus, some openings!

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Did you know that Chicago is ranked as the second-best city for St. Patrick's Day celebrations? This study says we are right behind Boston.

The intrigue: Cook County has only 8.4% of people who report Irish ancestry, according to U.S. census data. Massachusetts' Suffolk County (which includes Boston) has 12.4%.

• DuPage and Lake counties are a little higher, but nothing compared to the suburbs of Boston, which show over 20%.

The bottom line: So it's not just the Irish that are making Chicago a St. Patrick's Day destination.