| Good afternoon, Chicago. Two top Illinois Democrats, Gov. JB Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, said today that they oppose a Republican-led stopgap measure that would avert a partial government shutdown. “I refuse to vote for Republicans’ slush fund bill that grants (President Donald) Trump and Elon Musk permission to continue rigging our government and economy against the middle class. … Hell no, I cannot support that,” Duckworth said in a social media post. The stopgap funding bill has already passed in the House and faces a late deadline tonight in the Senate to avoid a shutdown. While Republicans have a majority in the Senate, they’ll need some Democratic support to
advance it with a 60-vote threshold. Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History news Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu stands at far right as Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual speaks
after ex-Speaker Michael Madigan’s split verdict at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Feb. 12, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Known as a dogged but fair litigator, Amarjeet Bhachu learned from Outfit-busting legends like Gary Shapiro and Mitchell Mars before eventually taking over the Public Corruption and Organized Crime Section, leading a series of bombshell investigations into mobsters, lobbyists, corporate CEOs and crooked politicians. More top news stories: business The Manhattan Round Barn in Will County March 5, 2025. Said to have been constructed in the 1890s from wood salvaged from
Chicago’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, the Round Barn will be refurbished this year as part of a $2.5 million project by the Manhattan Park District. (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown) Once glorious, part of a shining showcase of classical architecture that became known around the globe as the White City, the bulk of the buildings that made up the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 had been emptied and abandoned after the World’s Fair closed in 1894. More top business stories: sports Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga enters the field for a team workout in preparation for the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers at the Tokyo Dome on March 14, 2025, in Tokyo. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) All eyes were on Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga during today’s workout at the Tokyo Dome in front of an estimated 10,000 fans. More top sports stories: eat. watch. do. Chicago Symphony Orchestra principal flute Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson outside his home in Chicago on May 11, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Musician Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson, the principal flute of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, is taking a one-year leave of absence from the orchestra after winning the same post at the Berlin Philharmonic. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: nation & world Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks to reporters as Republicans work to pass an interim spending bill that would
avoid a partial government shutdown and keep federal agencies funded through September, at the Capitol in Washington, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer gave members of his caucus days to vent their frustration about the options before them, but abruptly switched course and made clear on the eve of voting that he will not allow a government shutdown. More top stories from around the world: | 
