WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap: March 13, 2026

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker surveys the destruction left behind after a series of wild storms rip through Kankakee County, destroying homes and buildings. Plus, the Illinois primary election is next week, and all eyes are on the tight race to replace longtime retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. We also talk about campaign finances and the use of AI in technology in political ads. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with Axios Chicago reporter Carrie Shepherd, WBEZ politics editor Dave McKinney and local journalist Leigh Giangreco. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop .