Early voting / Quiz / Shape Chicago news’ future / Free tees

Early voting. Ready to make your choices? Chicagoans can now cast their 2026 primary ballots at the city’s new “Voter Supersite” on State Street downtown.
Don’t vote dumb: Check the Chicago Public Square Voter Guide Guide.

Square returns in full form Tuesday. But it wouldn’t be Friday if we didn’t get you a fresh news quiz from past Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner Fritz Holznagel.
Your Square columnist scored 5/8 this time out—not awful for a vacation week, right?

Shape Chicago news’ future. Take a survey to help news organizations working with Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism better understand the public they serve—and you could win a $100 gift card.
Your participation shows potential funders—including advertisers—that the region’s journalists have substantial community backing.

Free tees. Through the end of February, as Square marks completion of its ninth year, you get a special code good for $9 off the price of a T-shirt or hoodie when you support this publication in any amount—even $1, just once.
Make it $10/month and get one free.

Missing the full Square news roundup? Check out the continually updated Square newsfeed on Bluesky.
 Why, you’ll find plenty there from the last 24 hours alone!

Don’t vote dumb / News quiz! / ‘Leftist claptrap’ redux

Chicago Public Square’s taking a few days off. Back next Friday with a news-quiz-only issue.
We’ll return in full force Tuesday, Feb. 17, with a special 2,000th regular edition (this one and next week’s don’t count!) to follow soon after that.
Meanwhile, bookmark the Square account on Bluesky for between-edition breaking news and perspective.
And for now …

Don’t vote dumb. It’s time for this year’s edition of the Square guide to Illinois primary voter guides.
It’ll be updated continually through March 17. Spot a mistake? Know of another source that’ll help people vote smart? Email Voterguide@ChicagoPublicSquare.com.

Do it for Chicago journalists—or do it for the chance at a $100 gift card. Take a few minutes for a survey to help news organizations working with Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism better understand the public they serve.


‘Go 8 for 8 and award yourself a gold medal.’ Past Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner Fritz Holznagel cheers you on for this week’s edition of The Conversation’s weekly news quiz.
Your Square columnist notched a typical 6/8 correct.

‘Leftist claptrap’ redux. Chicago Public Square T-shirts bearing that reader’s 2022 unsubscribe note on the back are in stock again—and you can buy one here.
To mark Square’s ninth anniversary, you get a special code good for $9 off the purchase price of any Square T-shirt or hoodie if you support this publication for any amount—even $1, just once.

Square up.

🟥 Square on Bluesky: