Good afternoon! I refuse to watch “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” because I initially thought it was part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Books with LGBTQ+ themes are among the most targeted in the U.S.

At least 2,571 book titles were challenged last year, the most since the American Library Association began tracking complaints 20 years ago, reports The Associated Press.

Today, the library association announced the top 13 books that are targeted in the U.S., finding that many of them contain LGBTQ+ themes.

“All the challenges are openly saying that young people should not be exposed to LGBTQ materials,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, who directs the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Gender Queer, a memoir by Maia Kobabe that explores gender identity and sexuality, was the most challenged book for the second year in a row.

Other books on the ALA’s list include George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue, Flamer by Mike Curato, Stephen Choosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower and This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson. [AP]

2. Closing arguments began in a case that ‘shook Illinois politics to the core’

The fate of the “ComEd Four” — political power players accused of conspiring to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan — will soon be in the hands of jurors.

On trial are former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and onetime City Club President Jay Doherty.

They are accused of a nearly decadelong bribery conspiracy, in which they allegedly arranged for jobs, contracts and money for Madigan allies.

Prosecutors say the goal was to sway Madigan into pushing through legislation benefiting ComEd.

“The case will likely turn on questions about whether each of the four defendants knowingly joined the alleged conspiracy, whether they acted with a corrupt intent tied to Madigan’s official actions or duties, and whether they did so in connection to legislation,” reports my colleague Jon Seidel. [Chicago Sun-Times]

3. Missouri is poised to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender adults

Missouri on Thursday is expected to take a step many transgender Americans feared was on the horizon — restrictions on gender-affirming care for adults that are believed to be the first of their kind.

The state’s attorney general earlier this month announced the restrictions, which include barring health care workers from offering gender-affirming care unless the patient has medically documented gender dysphoria for the past three years, reports St. Louis Public Radio.

Advocates for transgender rights are expected to challenge the rules in court. [NPR]

Meanwhile, transgender Missourians say they are considering moving.

“I feel like our own state is being held hostage,” Sera Hart-Smith told the Missouri Independent as she packed up her belongings before her supply of estrogen runs out. “No one wants things like this, not remotely enough for it to be a majority, for this to be the will of Missourians.” [Missouri Independent]

4. Hundreds of people marched in Chicago’s Loop to reach out to teens who caused chaos

Nearly 400 people took to the streets over the weekend to show the city’s youth that people care about them, reports my colleague Violet Miller.

“For years now, there’s been a narrative of an evil in our kids,” said Charlie Dates, senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and Progressive Baptist Church. “Chicago refuses to develop its greatest natural resources — our children.”

The march took place a week after hundreds of young people gathered downtown, with some breaking into cars and setting them on fire. At least two people were shot, and 15 people were arrested.

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s newly appointed chief of staff said Friday he had worked with police officials to prepare for the past weekend, including having “additional teams on site, undercover police personnel on site, just a lot more coordination,” after the department was criticized for having appeared to have been caught off-guard. [Chicago Sun-Times]

5. Tucker Carlson and Fox News ‘part ways’ less than a week after settling a major defamation lawsuit

Fox News announced today that primetime star Tucker Carlson is leaving, effective immediately.

Carlson, the network’s most popular primetime host, gave no indication he was leaving during his last show on Friday. He did not respond to requests for comment from NPR.

His ouster comes less than a week after Fox settled a defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems for $787 million. Dominion accused the network of promoting bogus claims of widespread election fraud in 2020.

“Carlson featured prominently in Dominion Voting Systems’ allegations against the network,” reports NPR.

“On his show, he raised skeptical questions over the lack of evidence for assertions made by a key Trump ally, Sidney Powell. In January 2021, however, he hosted a leading advertiser, My Pillow founder Mike Lindell, who repeated the false claims once more.” [NPR]

Coincidentally, CNN abruptly parted ways with anchor Don Lemon today. [New York Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• President Joe Biden is expected to announce his reelection campaign tomorrow. [CNN]
• Attorneys general of 17 states, including Illinois, are calling for a national recall of high-theft Hyundai and Kia vehicles. [NPR]
• A darling of the charter school movement may be taken over by Chicago Public Schools. [Chalkbeat Chicago]
• Can’t make sense of your college financial aid package? Here’s help. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

Chicago has long been recognized as a home for house and indie music. But our beloved city used to be a hotbed of … country music?

In his new book, Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival, WBEZ contributor Mark Guarino argues the city has been a major country music hub for the past century, beginning with the 1924 debut of the nationally popular Barn Dance show on WLS-AM radio.

“In the early era of string band music — before they even used the name ‘country music’ — it was a rural thing. It wasn’t a Southern thing,” Guarino said in an interview at his home in Lincoln Square.

“It was music from rural people, for rural people. And the rural people had moved to Chicago. Chicago was the biggest city next to the rural area. You can drive an hour outside Chicago, and you’re in rural America.” [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

Sometimes it feels like there is way too much going on. Do you have any hobbies that give you a sense of joy?

Since I’m a bad boi of public radio, I make a bunch of props for Dungeons and Dragons games I host. (Keep your shirts on, fellas.)

My very kind neighbor 3D-printed a miniature windmill that I painted for a game I’m running for a bunch of kids. They had the deed for the windmill, but a bunch of witches made the place their home.

Feel free to email me, and your response might be shared in the newsletter this week.