Chicago Daily Local Headlines: Weekend Shootings, Early Voting Expansion, CTA Delays
Chicago, IL – March 3, 2026 – Weekend shootings, expanded early voting, CTA Belmont delays, and Pulaski Day closures top local attention today.
Chicago heads into Tuesday with a mix of public safety concerns, election logistics, and a reminder that city services can look different during local holidays.
1) Public safety: Weekend shootings and a South Side investigation
Police reported at least four people killed and 14 others wounded in shootings from Friday through Sunday across multiple neighborhoods. Investigations continued into Monday, with officials stressing that tips from witnesses and nearby cameras can help detectives move faster on cases.
Separately, a Monday morning scene in Gresham drew a heavy response after a rollover crash, where officers recovered a gun and indications suggested a possible shooting in the area. Several blocks saw temporary closures as investigators processed the scene.
2) Democracy: Early voting expands citywide ahead of the March 17 primary
Early voting expanded across all 50 wards on Monday, adding more places to vote ahead of the March 17 primary. Election officials have emphasized that voters can use any early voting location in the city, a setup designed to spread out lines and make voting easier to fit into busy schedules.
3) Transit: North Side signal problems triggered major CTA delays
Monday afternoon brought significant delays on the Red, Brown, and Purple lines near Belmont after signal problems halted trains and backed up service in both directions. Service resumed, but commuters were advised to plan extra time and consider bus routes while delays worked through the system.
4) City services: Pulaski Day closures may have affected Monday plans
Pulaski Day (observed Monday, March 2) meant Chicago and Cook County government offices and courts were closed, and public library branches were closed as well. Chicago Public Schools remained open, and because it is not a federal holiday, banks and post offices generally operated on normal schedules.
Sources
- https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/news/chicago-weekend-shootings-feb-27-to-march-2/
- https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-police-shooting-crash-gresham
- https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/2026-illinois-primary-early-voting-chicago-cook-county/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/cta-signal-problems-delays-red-brown-purple-line/
- https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/pulaski-day-chicago-history-parade-school-off
