Daywatch: And the Oscar goes to...

Good morning, Chicago.

The 95th Academy Awards will be held this Sunday. Ahead of this annual event, film critic Michael Phillips offers some thoughts on the nominees, who he thinks will win and who should win. See his picks and compare them to your own.

In the mood for a movie marathon before the awards ceremony? Here’s where to stream Oscar-nominated films.

As organizers prepare to roll out the red carpet, Christopher Borrelli has a bone to pick with coverage. Nothing is iconic anymore. More on why he thinks the word is meaningless now.

Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.

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Gov. J.B. Pritzker discloses plan for troubled downstate mental health center that would allow more than half of its residents to move

Following reports of abuse, neglect and other mistreatment of residents at a downstate mental health center, Gov. J.B. Pritzker laid out his plan for improving conditions at the facility while also providing many residents an opportunity to move elsewhere.

Former prosecutors hit with charges in Burge-connected case

Two former Cook County prosecutors have been indicted by a grand jury on charges of perjury and official misconduct in connection with a complicated, decades-old case of a man who alleged torture after he was accused in the killing of two cops in 1982, according to a special prosecutor who was assigned to investigate the matter.

Lawrence Oliver, a former federal prosecutor and lawyer for Boeing, made the announcement Wednesday afternoon at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, another chapter in a 40-year saga that involved slain Chicago police officers, allegations of torture by police working under notorious ex-Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge and accusations that a Cook County assistant state’s attorney had a relationship with a witness and perjured himself.

Volkswagen offering free emergency assistance after delay in giving authorities GPS location of stolen car carrying toddler

Volkswagen said it would make its emergency roadside assistance program free to some vehicle owners for the next five years after a program representative recently declined to give police GPS information for a car that was stolen near Libertyville with a toddler inside.

“The family was thankfully reunited, but the crime and the process failure are heartbreaking for me,” said Rachael Zaluzec, a Volkswagen senior vice president.

How Northwestern basketball rebounded

Northwestern seniors Boo Buie, Chase Audige and Robbie Beran forged a friendship through ups and downs and losing seasons. Now they’re reaping the rewards of their loyalty.

My worst moment: ‘Abbott Elementary’ writer wishes she knew about the spit bucket

Chicago native and comedian Brittani Nichols is a writer on ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.” Quinta Brunson, the show’s creator and star, spent time in Chicago earlier in her career taking classes at Second City, but ironically, that Chicago connection is not how they met.

Though primarily a writer, Nichols has also appeared on camera. When asked about a worst moment in her career, she recalled her role on the Amazon series “Transparent.”