Axios Chicago

March 26, 2024
Happy Tuesday! On this day in 1837, St. James Church on Huron Street opened. It was Chicago's first Episcopal church.
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Today's newsletter is 774 words — a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: State's attorney primary still undecided
Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
A winner has yet to be called exactly one week after the Democrat primary for Cook County state's attorney.
Why it matters: The race has been one of the most watched in the state this election, pitting business-backed Eileen O'Neill Burke against Clayton Harris III, the Cook County Democratic Party's pick. A win for Burke would be seen as a rebuke against outgoing state's attorney Kim Foxx.
By the numbers: Burke, a former judge, remains in the lead over former prosecutor Harris, but by roughly 1,700 votes, per the latest Chicago and Cook County election data.
- About 53,000 outstanding mail-in ballots have yet to be counted, as of Monday night. Elections officials don't expect all of them to be returned and properly postmarked by the April 2 deadline.
Catch up quick: Burke's lead has narrowed since more mail-in ballots were counted over the weekend.
- Chicago Board of Elections spokesperson Max Bever announced Sunday that he had miscommunicated the number of mail-in ballots received before last Tuesday's election, omitting nearly 10,000. Those additional ballots boosted totals for Harris.
Between the lines: Both campaigns have said poll watchers are monitoring the count at the Board of Elections, but spokespeople for O'Neill Burke and Harris said there was no nefarious activity at play.
Zoom in: O'Neill Burke's biggest donors include Lettuce Entertain You founder Rich Melman and executives from Citadel. She also has the backing of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, which says her pledge to prosecute retail theft more vigilantly will help struggling businesses.
- Harris was hand-picked by party head Toni Preckwinkle to carry on Foxx's progressive agenda, although the candidate told WBEZ he will "chart [his] own course in office."
- He has pledged to keep her policy of not prosecuting retail theft under $1,000 and said he'll work to improve the office's relationship with the police.
What's next: The Chicago Board of Elections will continue to count mail-in ballots until the April 2 deadline, WBEZ reported.
- The winner will face Republican Bob Fioretti and Libertarian candidate Andrew Charles Kopinski in the November general election.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to further clarify what progress is being made in counting mail-in ballots.
2. Wayfair opening first large format store in Wilmette
The Wayfair store planned for Wilmette. Photo courtesy of Gensler
Wayfair will open its first large format brick-and-mortar store in May at Edens Plaza in Wilmette.
Why it matters: The online furniture giant will fill more than 150,000 square feet of vacant space left when Carson Pirie Scott closed in 2018. It's part of a plan by Edens Plaza owner WS Development and the City of Wilmette to revamp and modernize the strip mall.
🏠 Driving the news: Wayfair announced this month that its large format store will carry furniture, decor and home improvement items, and include interactive elements.
- The company's plans also include an in-store restaurant — a la Ikea.
Catch up quick: Wayfair is the umbrella company for several home decorating brands, including All Modern, Perigold and Birch Lane, all of which generated $12 billion in revenue last year.
- The Boston-based company laid off 1,650 employees this year. The CEO blamed over-hiring in response to a 2020 boom in online shopping, CNN reported.
- A spokesperson tells Axios the Wilmette store is expected to create 200 jobs.
3. Map of the day: Mifepristone access

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments today in a case that could affect how people are able to access the abortion medication mifepristone.
Why it matters: Medication abortions accounted for 63% of all U.S. abortions in 2023, the highest figure on record, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports reproductive rights.
Zoom in: Illinois is one of the only Midwestern states where the medication is legal without a physician provision.
4. Tips and hot links: Boeing head out
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
✈️ In the wake of safety issues, Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing says CEO Dave Calhoun will step down at year-end. (Axios)
😷 New measles cases were announced over the weekend in Lake and Will counties. Authorities say the Will County case is connected to the ongoing Chicago outbreak. (WGN)
⛲ The city will close migrant shelters in five Chicago parks — including Gage, Brands, Leone, Piotrowski and the Broadway Armory — on Saturday and reopen them for public use. (ABC-7)
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5. Elite 8: 📖 Chicago's best nonfiction book
Author Studs Terkel, standing at the train stop above the neighborhood street in 1974. Photo: Thomas S. England/Getty Images
It's on to the second round in our quest to crown the best nonfiction Chicago book of all time.
🏆 Biggest win: "Devil in the White City" took 92% of the vote over Lois Willie's "Forever Open, Clear and Free" in the first round.
👀 Closest win: Jane Addams eked out a victory over Richard Wright by 11 votes.
Now we move to the last eight authors standing: Larson, Algren, Terkel, Obama, Addams, Dybek, Kotlowitz and Royko. Not too shabby.


Vote here! We will keep the poll open until 4pm.
Edited by Alexa Mencia and copy edited by Rob Reinalda and Yasmeen Altaji.
📺 Carrie is finally watching "Patriot" on Amazon, which Monica recommended. Chicago's own Tony Fitzpatrick is funny in it!
🥣 Monica has been braving the recent cold mornings with a warm bowl of musabaha and homemade bread.
🌴 Justin is taking a break. A sprriiiing break! Holla!
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