Hey there! It’s Thursday! And I love saying the obvious in movie theaters. Like, “Oh, he’s a ROBOT,” during Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. Biden and Sanders turn to Illinois

The top two candidates in the Democratic presidential race are focusing on the Land of Lincoln to help secure enough delegates to win the party’s nomination.

Sen. Bernie Sanders will have a rally in Chicago’s Grant Park on Saturday afternoon. The Vermont senator will then head to Rockford on Tuesday for another rally. Former Vice President Joe Biden will be in Chicago March 13 for a fundraiser and will likely have a public event. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Illinois’ primary is on March 17, and the presidential race isn’t the only heated contest on the ballot. Check out this crib sheet that examines some of the critical local races. [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, once a front-runner in what had been a diverse field of candidates, ended her presidential campaign today. [NPR]

2. Will the coronavirus cause a global recession?

Governments and central banks around the world are rushing to contain the economic damage from the virus’ outbreak as the odds of a global recession grow.

Stock markets have gone on a rollercoaster ride as investors worry about the virus’ impact. Consumer spending, a main pillar of economic growth, could take a hit as more people stay home.

That’s on top of further bad news that supply chains for various companies, like Apple and Microsoft, could face major disruptions as factories in China struggle to stay open. [NPR]

Meanwhile, a sense of crisis deepens in the U.S. as more infections are reported. In Illinois, health officials confirmed a fifth case: a Cook County resident in his 20s who flew into O’Hare this month from Italy. [WBEZ]

3. The U.S. can be investigated for war crimes in Afghanistan

The International Criminal Court ruled today that an investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan can include allegations against U.S. forces, a move that puts the global tribunal on a collision course with the Trump administration.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo immediately denounced the ruling, which he called “reckless.” The decision comes after the U.S. and the Taliban signed an ambitious peace deal.

Today’s ruling is the first time the International Criminal Court has allowed its chief prosecutor to open an inquiry into U.S. forces. The court was established more than 15 years ago to investigate war crimes, and Washington has long rejected the court’s jurisdiction. [Politico]

4. Suspect in fatal stabbing of gay Chicago man charged with 1st degree murder

And a Cook County judge today ordered the suspect, former Marine Thomas Tansey, to be held in jail until his trial. Authorities accuse Tansey of stabbing and killing Kenny Paterimos earlier this month outside of Richard’s Bar in the city’s West Town neighborhood.

Prosecutors presented new details about the circumstances surrounding the stabbing, saying Paterimos followed Tansey outside the bar, and the two got into a fistfight.

Tansey told authorities he stabbed Paterimos in self-defense, but Cook County Judge Charles Beach noted that Paterimos was stabbed multiple times in the back. [Block Club Chicago]

5. Tornado outside Nashville was the nation’s worst in nearly 3 years

The National Weather Service says a tornado that touched down 80 miles east of Nashville was the nation’s first “violent” tornado in nearly three years. That tornado carried 175 mph winds and was responsible for 18 deaths.

A series of tornadoes struck Tennessee on Tuesday, killing a total of 24 people between the ages of 2 and 67. One of the twisters carved a devastating path through Nashville with winds up to 165 mph. [Washington Post]

Here’s what else is happening

• Chicago cops are in the process of electing a union leader, and the candidates are racing to the right. [WBEZ]

• Mayor Lori Lightfoot and community groups reached an agreement on a plan to create civilian oversight of the police department. [Chicago Sun-Times]

• The feds seized at least 100 electronic devices from R. Kelly. [Chicago Tribune]

• A former Republican congressman from Illinois, who had long voted against LGBTQ rights, today confirmed something that most of America probably already suspected. [Buzzfeed News]

Oh, and one more thing …

I, Hunter Clauss, a homosexual, must confess to the Parliament of Gays that I haven’t seen the music video for Lady Gaga’s “Stupid Love” yet.

Please accept this blurb for Lady Gaga’s upcoming Chicago performance as further evidence in my quest for forgiveness.

The pop-culture icon announced today that she will stop by Wrigley Field in August as part of her six-city Chromatica Ball world tour.

I will work to better myself in the future. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Tell me something good …

Spring doesn’t officially begin until later this month, but it feels like we’re already out of the long, dark tunnel that is winter. What are you most excited to do now that winter seems to be over (for now)?

Greg Clites writes:

“My 1 1/2-year-old grandson was trying to catch sunbeams shining through a window. It was HILARIOUS to everyone watching and to him, too! He probably doesn’t remember the sun shining like that; I can hardly remember it myself!!”

And Barbara writes:

“I’m looking forward to hearing woodpeckers when I go out in the early morning to feed the chickens we keep with our neighbors.”

What are you looking forward to this spring? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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