In the days and hours leading up to the NBA trade deadline (Thursday at 2 p.m. CT), there wasn’t a team more active than the Chicago Bulls. And while Illinois was busy blasting Northwestern down in Champaign, 84-44, the Bulls’ front office was deciding if and how to move former Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu – who had been a mainstay with his hometown NBA franchise since being selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.

Former Illini Ayo Dosunmu dealt from Chicago Bulls to Minnesota Timberwolves

On Thursday morning, Chicago’s brass – Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley – seemingly came to a concrete (albeit head-scratching) solution: deal Dosunmu (and Julian Phillips) to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round draft picks.

Although Chicago’s decision is thoroughly confounding from an organizational perspective, the change in scenery for Dosunmu just may be in his best interests. Although he may not enjoy the idea of leaving his hometown, Dosunmu couldn’t be entering a better basketball situation.

Per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Dosunmu “will be the guard for the foreseeable future they’re putting next to Anthony Edwards.” Not only will Dosunmu – who is in the midst of a breakout campaign (15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists on tremendous shooting splits off the bench) – enter into a larger role, but he will be on a squad that is currently fifth in the Western Conference standings and has NBA title aspirations.

The lone drawback (at least as far as Illini fans may be concerned) is that the addition of Dosunmu may push fellow Illinois alum Terrence Shannon Jr. to the back of the rotation. Shannon has been battling injuries for the vast majority of the 2025-26 campaign, but he was a key contributor in the Timberwolves’ Western Conference Finals run a year ago.

After finally carving out a role with Minnesota, Shannon entered this season as a prime candidate to push for the league’s Most Improved Player award. But thus far, he has appeared in just 22 games, averaging just 12.8 minutes.

Although Dosunmu and Shannon never overlapped in Champaign, the prospect of the pair sharing the floor together is an enticing one for Illini fans. Both are transition-oriented players who thrive in open space but are also valuable halfcourt slashers and spot-up shooters.

Dosunmu attacking and kicking to an open Shannon for a corner three, or the pair running a two-on-one fastbreak together wouldn’t just be a sight to behold for Illinois fans – but also one for the Timberwolves and their fans.

Some polls opened up for early voting on Thursday, with less than six weeks to go until primary day in Illinois.

The actual date of the primary election in Illinois is March 17. But if work, school, doctor’s appointments, or other responsibilities prevent one from casting a ballot that day, early voting is an alternative.

MORE: Early voting dates, locations for Chicago and surrounding counties

DuPage County was to open up the polls at five locations beginning at 8 a.m. However, “due to unresolved candidate objections currently pending before the Appellate Court,” the start of early voting and vote by mail has been delayed for “early next week.” 

The McHenry County Election Center, at 410 S. Eastwood Dr. in Woodstock, will fire up its machines for residents of that county at 8:30 a.m. 

Also at 8:30 a.m., the Will County Clerk’s office, at 302 N. Chicago St. in Joliet, and the Kankakee County Clerk’s office, at 189 E. Court St. in Kankakee, begin early voting.

Ballots can be cast at the Lake County Courthouse, at 18 N. County St. in Waukegan, starting at 9 a.m.

Primaries do not always see the best voter turnout, but this election includes some key races that will affect politics across the entire state. Voters will determine who runs on the Democratic and Republican tickets for Illinois governor, and the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) is also up for grabs.

A total of 14 Democratic candidates are running for the nomination for Durbin’s seat, and eight on the Republican side.

Early voting is not yet open for Chicago and suburban Cook County residents.

Early voting begins Thursday, Feb. 12, for city residents. The downtown supersite has moved to a new location at 137 S. State St.

Suburban Cook County early voting doesn’t start until March 2. Click here to look up the early voting site near you. 

For those who prefer to vote by mail, the United States Postal Service now says it cannot guarantee that ballots will be postmarked the same day they are sent. This means ballots mailed on the primary day of March 17 may not count for this election.

USPS suggests returning vote-by-mail ballots by March 10 to be safe.

CHICAGO (WLS) — New details are being revealed about an immigration raid at a South Shore apartment complex last year.

Newly filed court documents for someone detained in the raid reveal the building’s owner or manager gave verbal and written consent for the raid on Sept. 30 at 75th and South Shore Drive.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

New court documents also showed officers were responding to a tip of migrants living in the building.

Last month, the state of Illinois launched an investigation into the raid and whether the landlord or building management may have tipped off the Department of Homeland Security.

READ MORE | Landlord accused of housing discrimination in South Shore immigration raid amid state investigation

The owner and manager of the building have not responded to ABC7’s requests for comment.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security claims two members of a Venezuelan gang were arrested in the raid.