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🌱 187 New Illinois Laws + 'Strong' Candidate for Bears President

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I'm back with your fresh edition of the Chicago Daily. If you find this newsletter helpful, please share it with friends, neighbors and advertisers. Now, in today's local coverage!

  • A former Woodlawn elementary school will house newly arrived asylum seekers
  • 187 new Illinois laws will go into effect in 2023
  • This Big Ten commissioner is a 'strong' candidate for Bears president

But first, the Chicago Transit Authority and Metra will offer passengers free rides on New Year's Eve. Learn more here.

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Cloudy. High: 45 Low: 31.

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📰 Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) Shuttered Woodlawn elementary school to house newly arrived asylum seekers. The South Side building that was once James Wadsworth Elementary School will be repurposed as a temporary shelter for newly arrived immigrants seeking asylum. It's unclear how many people will end up being housed in the building or for how long. Since late August, 3,854 asylum seekers have arrived from Texas. (Chicago Sun-Times)

2) Pair of Chicago children's musicians up for same Grammy award. Two of the five Grammy nominees this year for Best Children's Album are from the Chicago area. For Justin Roberts, it's his fifth nomination. And for the duo Wendy and DB, it's their first. The Grammys Awards are set to take place Feb. 6. (WTTW)

3) Big Ten commissioner a 'strong' candidate for Bears president: report. Kevin Warren has run the Big Ten since 2019, has previous NFL experience and worked most recently in the Minnesota Vikings front office. He has emerged as a strong candidate to replace Ted Phillips as president and CEO of the Chicago Bears. (Patch Chicago)

4) In Chicago, a South American bird scratches out a hardscrabble home. Hundreds of monk parakeets, escapees from the pet trade and native to South America, have made permanent, year-round settlements beneath the city's elevated highways. The non-native birds are members of the parrot family, and were brought north in the 1950s and 60s to sell as pets. They were first spotted in the wild in Chicago in 1968. (Wall Street Journal)

5) More than 180 new Illinois laws going into effect in 2023. Here's the full list. From new guidelines for those who have had their vehicle stolen to establishing a state snake, 187 new laws will go into effect in Illinois in 2023, the majority on Jan. 1. While many are industry-specific, others are less traditional. (NBC Chicago)

📌 Today in Chicago:

  • Toss & Spin x The Chicago Bulls Pickleball Takeover at United Center (8:30 AM)
  • Yoga for Adults at West Lawn Branch Library (9:30 AM)
  • Prince: The Immersive Experience in The Shops at North Bridge (10:00 AM)
  • A Very Harry Christmas Pop-up at Replay Lincoln Park (3:00 PM)
  • DeRay Davis' Funny And Famous Chi Town Comedy Countdown at Arie Crown Theater (6:00 PM)
  • Salute To Vienna New Year's Concert at Chicago Symphony Orchestra (6:00 PM)
  • Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons at United Center (7:00 PM)
  • Vance Kelly & The Back Street Candy Lickin' Blues Band at Kingston Mines (7:30 PM)
  • World Premiere Adaption of Little Women at First Folio Theatre (8:00 PM)
  • Eve of the Eve Cocktail Cruise at Burnham Harbor (8:00 PM)
  • Philly Peroxide's Funtime at Late Bar (8:00 PM)
  • Her Worst Nightmare with Malinche, Sawbuck at Beat Kitchen (8:00 PM)
  • We Love Soul Pre-NYE Celebration "The Party of the Year" at The Promontory (8:00 PM)
  • Channel Tres at Thalia Hall (9:00 PM)
  • Bonelang with Kweku Collins at Schubas (9:00 PM)
  • The Disco Biscuits at The Riviera Theatre (9:00 PM)
  • John Oliver Live at The Chicago Theatre (10:00 PM)
  • MK at TAO Chicago (10:00 PM)

📱 Social chatter:

  • NYE in Chicago: "10 ways to celebrate New Year's Eve in Chicago." (WTTW)
  • 2 popular photo essays: "Two photo essays were among our most popular features of 2022. ⁠ ⁠ In May, Paul D'Amato's ongoing project Midway appeared. D'Amato, a photographer and Columbia College professor, has spent the last eight years documenting the often-overlooked neighborhoods — such as Chicago Lawn, Brighton Park, West Lawn, and Garfield Ridge — that surround Midway. In this working-class slice of the city, jets roar so low that dishes rattle in kitchens. The proximity makes for a study in contrasts.⁠ In December, Dave Jordano's photographs of Chicago storefronts resonated with readers. When the sun sets and the city lights up, Dave Jordano ventures out, driving around for hours at a time in search of subjects to photograph. He prefers the shops, restaurants, convenience stores, bars, and motels that give Chicago its unique charm — the institutions of the neighborhood.⁠" (Chicago magazine via Instagram)
  • Pet adoption: "This Matilda uses her magic to make you give her whatever she wants (you may already know this phenomena—more commonly known as "puppy dog eyes") Whether she'll use her power for good or evil, we're leaning towards good, but you can come find out if you scoop her up at our Adoption Center today!" (PAWS Chicago via Facebook)

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— Nicole Cvetnic

About me: I'm a Midwesterner and very happy to call Chicagoland home. I love the outdoors—especially hiking—performing arts, photography, good food, travel and gardening. You can find me reading to my toddler, watching tv with my husband or cuddling with our rescue dog.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Chicago Daily? Contact me at chicago_il@patch.com

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