Good morning, Chicago. When it comes to Chicago and crime, perception isn’t always reality. At times, 2025 brought deadly chaos to Chicago’s shimmering downtown: An 18-victim mass shooting in River North, the worst the city’s seen in years. The annual Christmas tree lighting marred by two more shootings, including the murder of a teen boy. A young woman from Indiana set on fire while riding the CTA Blue Line through the Loop. Those crimes were red meat for those who revel in the city’s reputation as a lawless wasteland helmed by liberal politicians. But despite the headline-grabbing mayhem — which often distracts from the day-to-day violence that plays out in poorer neighborhoods across the city — in 2025 Chicago’s gun violence fell to levels not seen in a decade. Read the full story from the Tribune’s Sam Charles. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: a look back at the 64 days of Operation Midway Blitz, what new Illinois laws are taking effect in 2026 and 10 thoughts on the Bears game against the 49ers. Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles Games | Today in History Inspector General Deborah Witzburg, center, speaks with aldermen after a committee meeting on April 16, 2025, at City Hall. “We can say with some confidence that there were inadequate controls around the PPP loan program and widespread fraud,” Witzburg told the Tribune. “ (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Hundreds of public employees investigated by the state of Illinois improperly took millions in PPP loans About 400 government employees investigated by the state of Illinois improperly tapped a federal pandemic relief fund program meant to keep small businesses afloat — part of a nationwide wave of Paycheck Protection Program fraud that siphoned tens of billions of dollars from taxpayers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A federal agent points a weapon to hold back a crowd as agents briefly detain a woman pulled from her car before releasing her along West 26th Street on Nov. 8, 2025, in Cicero. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) 64 days in Chicago: The story of Operation Midway Blitz After 64 days, they celebrated. They gathered at one of Chicago’s most beloved landmarks, in the middle of a city where they’d wrought so much fear and pain, and they celebrated. It was the second Monday in November and early in the morning, the season’s first snowfall still fresh, when they parked along Monroe Street and made their way toward Millennium Park, more than 150 strong. Some carried weapons. Two of them led dogs on long leashes. Some wore the camouflaged fatigues of military battle and others dark green uniforms. They all displayed markings that made clear their status as agents with the U.S. Border Patrol, and they’d arrived to complete one final Chicago mission — for the moment — to pose for the camera. One last made-for-social-media moment. Mayor Brandon Johnson answers questions during a news conference on the fifth floor of Chicago City Hall on Dec. 15, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Here’s what Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2024 tax returns show Mayor Brandon Johnson released his most recent tax returns to the Tribune this month, showing the freshman chief executive remains less wealthy than his predecessors and does not earn outside income. The Senate finishes an invocation before a floor session at the Illinois Capitol during the legislative session Oct. 30, 2025, in Springfield. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) New Illinois laws taking effect in 2026 touch on policing, expand abortion access and regulate some AI use As Illinois turns the calendar to 2026, it will bring more than fresh resolutions. It will also usher in hundreds of new state laws, statutes that will quietly reshape daily life from grocery store checkout lines and police departments to college classrooms, hospital exam rooms and workplaces. Ellen Riggsbee stands near a public supply of naloxone in a box on a wall in the Evanston Public Library on Dec. 22, 2025. In the new year there will also be staff supplies of naloxone in anticipation of a new law. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) New law requires public libraries across Illinois to carry opioid OD reversal medication Though many Illinois libraries already have supplies of medications that can reverse opioid overdoses, a new state law will soon require all public libraries to stock them. The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, also instructs libraries to take “reasonable steps” to make sure there’s always a staff member present who’s been trained in how to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses. Sales representatives work at the Groupon office on Wacker Drive in the Loop, Dec. 9, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Tucked away in a downtown Chicago office building, fallen e-commerce star Groupon is ready for a comeback Inside Groupon’s 2-year-old headquarters on the 25th floor of the Leo Burnett Building in downtown Chicago, a giant cat in a spaceship with flashing lights greets visitors in an otherwise staid office tower. Here, the quirky e-commerce startup once dubbed the fastest-growing company ever, amid Super Bowl ads and ubiquitous media coverage, is quietly executing a turnaround after years of downsizing and red ink. Groupon is trying to become the next big thing once again. It happened once before. The primary east pond coal ash impoundment at the defunct Wood River Power Station, located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Wood rivers in East Alton, on Dec. 11, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Plans to close dozens of toxic coal ash ponds in Illinois stuck in backlog Where the Wood and Mississippi rivers meet in southern Illinois, over a million cubic yards of toxic coal ash sit on the edge of Illinois’ floodplain, threatening the waterways that surround it. The retired Wood River Power Station is home to one of 72 coal ash impoundments, or ponds, across Illinois that contain byproducts from former coal combustion plants, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Steven Gonzalez of West Chicago, dressed as Santa Claus, hugs Maylannie Huitron, 8, on Dec. 23, 2025, while Adriel Hutton, 6, looks on at La Chiquita in Aurora. Gonzalez has been dressing up as Santa for families in need and making appearances in the area. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune) DuPage County man brings cheer as Santa as he overcomes his own health battles On Christmas Eve, Antelmo Garcia walked out of West Chicago’s Carnitas La Central as the sun started to set, his hands clutching aluminum take-out containers full of beans, rice, chicken and barbacoa beef. Behind him, jingle bells clanged. Santa Claus followed in tow, holding one more tray of fixings. They were bringing Christmas dinner to Garcia’s car. For weeks, Kris Kringle had been making his rounds across the western suburbs — but the effort stemmed from much closer than the North Pole. Bears nickel back C.J. Gardner-Johnson makes an interception that was wiped out by a penalty for illegal use of hands during the second quarter against the 49ers on Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Chicago Bears run out of magic late — but can still clinch the No. 2 seed: Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on Week 17 The Bears ran out of magic in the final seconds and lost 42-38, the same spot Caleb Williams and the offense had helped pull out so many games already this season. A night after clinching the NFC North crown with a loss by the Green Bay Packers, the Bears came up short — but this isn’t the kind of ballgame this franchise has been equipped to play in for a long, long time. Week 17 recap: Bears come up 4 yards short on last drive in 42-38 shootout loss to San Francisco 49ers ‘We’re always in the game’: How the Bears have become battle-tested against the NFC’s best The pepperoni and Mike's hot honey drizzle pizza in a takeout box at Pizz'amici on Grand Avenue in Chicago on Sept. 25, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) 2025 food favorites: The most memorable dishes and drinks we had across Chicago With 2026 just around the corner, the writers and editors of the Tribune food section have taken some time to reflect on our favorite bites and drinks from 2025. From pizza to pasta salad to pie, here are the dishes that stood out. ...read more read less