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Community Corner

🌱 Arctic Blast Coming​ To Chicago + Jane Byrne Interchange Reopening

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Chicago.

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(Patch Media)

Welcome back, readers! In today's edition of the Chicago Daily:

  • 🚧 Construction on the Jane Byrne Interchange is almost complete
  • 🚨 4 arrested may be responsible for 50+ recent armed robberies across the city
  • ❄️ An arctic blast is coming to Chicago next week

But first, did you know Illinois is getting an official state snake? Learn more here.

❄️ The weather:

Breezy; p.m. snow showers. High: 38 Low: 28.

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📰 Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1. Jane Byrne Interchange construction almost complete, set to reopen this month. After nine years of construction, the long-awaited completion of the Jane Byrne Interchange is almost here. The last of the major ramp closures will reopen as soon as Friday, or as late as Monday. The busy interchange connects three Chicago expressways near downtown. IDOT officials expect local traffic to improve by 50 percent. (Chicago Tribune)

2. 4 arrested after fiery Northwest Side crash may be responsible for recent armed robbery spree. CPD Supt. David Brown said investigators believe the four suspects arrested after a police chase and fiery crash earlier this week in Ravenswood may be responsible for more than 50 recent armed robberies across Chicago. The men—ages 19 to 21—face a litany of felony charges related to a string of armed robberies that occurred early Monday. (Chicago Sun-Times)

3. Chicago raises fines for parking in bike lanes. The ordinance approved by City Council yesterday raises the fine to $250 for blocking a bike lane, and requires signs to be posted warning that a bike lane is closed. The ordinance also expands the number of city departments that can request a tow, and allows CDOT to revoke service permits for vehicles blocking bike lanes. (CBS Chicago)

4. Bally's casino plan clears final city hurdle, awaits Illinois Gaming Board's license approval. City Council gave final zoning approval to the proposed $1.7 billion casino project. Bally's is still awaiting licensing approval from the Illinois Gaming Board to operate the casino, set to be built on the Tribune Publishing site along the Chicago River near Halsted Street and Chicago Avenue. The casino is expected to open in 2026, and will include a hotel, restaurants, event center, theater, condos and apartments, retail space and a new public park. (NBC Chicago)

5. Arctic blast coming, bringing 'much colder' weather to Chicago next week. The weather is expected to drastically change next week as an Arctic blast moves in. Temperatures could be "MUCH colder than those normal highs and lows" in the days before Christmas, with bitter cold expected through the holiday. Tuesday could be the last day to safely spend time outside before rain and cold hit. (Block Club Chicago)

📌 Today in Chicago:

  • Winter Flower Show Tour at Garfield Park Conservatory (10:00 AM)
  • Flower Arranging 101 at Oriole Park Branch Library (11:00 AM)
  • Catalog Holiday Marketplace at Willis Tower (11:00 AM)
  • First-Annual Sake Fest at Sushi Hoshi - Pilsen (6:00 PM)
  • Happy HoliGays Customer Appreciation Party at Sidetrack The Video Bar (6:00 PM)
  • Adults Night Out: Holidaze at Lincoln Park Zoo (6:30 PM)
  • Saves The Day at House of Blues (7:30 PM)
  • The Sorcerer's Apprentice & Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony at Chicago Symphony Orchestra (7:30 PM)
  • Tim Warfield's Jazzy Christmas at Jazz Showcase (8:00 PM)
  • Claudio Simonetti's Goblin Performs the Live Score to Suspiria at Thalia Hall (8:00 PM)
  • Click - The Only Charli XCX Party In The World at Scarlet (8:00 PM)
  • A Judy Christmas at The Den Theatre (8:00 PM)
  • Jeezy at The Patio Theater (8:00 PM)
  • Brett Eldredge: Glow Live Tour at The Chicago Theatre (8:00 PM)
  • What The Elf? at The Second City (8:00 PM)
  • Raining Bananas with Fanita Banana at Punch House (9:00 PM)
  • The Holiday Heist at Replay Lakeview (9:00 PM)
  • Legion Of Doom at Empty Bottle (9:30 PM)

📱 Social chatter:

  • CTA-Pace shared passes: "Public transportation leaders are creating passes that can be used on both the CTA and Pace suburban buses." (Chicago Sun-Times)
  • Massive cookie sale: "Third-graders at Burr Elementary are baking cookies to to help eighth-graders pay for a trip to the nation's capital. 🍪🍪" (Block Club Chicago via Facebook)
  • Holiday train 📸: "The holiday train is pretty from all angles 🤩 🎄 🎅 🚂 🔔 ⁠ ⁠ 📸: @daedmorgon" (Chicago Architecture Center via Instagram)
  • Holiday-themed Ventra card: "Make our holiday fleet a part of your everyday commute with our new, special edition "Holiday Train and Holiday Bus"-themed Ventra Card! Available for purchase now for only $5" (Chicago Transit Authority via Facebook)
  • Someone just lifted 1,008 pounds: "Lifting more than his community, CPD veteran breaks state bench press record." (WGN-TV)

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You're officially in the loop for today.

— 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 my special needs dog.

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

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