Daywatch: Aldermen forge ahead with counterproposal to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget

Good morning, Chicago.

Aldermen officially threw their budget cards on the table yesterday by introducing their own 2026 package to the City Council, the clearest sign yet they believe they don’t need Mayor Brandon Johnson to solve the current impasse on next year’s spending plan.

The high-stakes game of chicken between the freshman mayor and his council antagonists — including some of his own committee leaders — now moves from the dueling news conferences of the past weeks into the actual legislative process. In the increasingly likely event they can’t reach a widely acceptable compromise, each side will try to build a proposal that can pass the council before the end of the year to avert a government shutdown.

Read the full story from the Tribune’s Alice Yin and Jake Sheridan.

Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including what the Federal Reserve rate cut means for you, 3 Chicago White Sox takeaways from winter meetings and best rock, pop and hip hop of 2025.

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What the Federal Reserve rate cut means for you

The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point for the third time since September, bringing its key rate to about 3.6%, the lowest in nearly three years. Before September, it had gone nine months without a cut.

Botulism outbreak sickens more than 50 babies and expands to all ByHeart products

Federal health officials expanded an outbreak of infant botulism tied to recalled ByHeart baby formula to include all illnesses reported since the company began production in March 2022.

Ex-Summit police chief found guilty of taking bribe from bar owner, obstructing justice

More than six years after the FBI knocked on his door as part of a sprawling corruption investigation, former Summit police Chief John Kosmowski was convicted by a federal jury of taking a bribe from a local bar owner in exchange for assisting with a liquor license transfer.

Indiana Senate on verge of passing redistricting bill

Republican Senators did not have to cast initial votes related to Indiana’s mid-census redistricting yesterday as the three Democratic amendments were voted on by voice vote.

House Bill 1032, which addresses mid-census redistricting and gives Republicans an advantage in all nine congressional districts, moves on without Senate amendments for final Senate consideration today.

Related: 

Will Chicago Bears CB Kyler Gordon return this season? Ben Johnson says it’s ‘to be determined.’

The Chicago Bears have not given a clear answer as to cornerback Kyler Gordon’s status moving forward after he injured his groin in pregame warmups Sunday in Green Bay.

Asked if Gordon will return this season, coach Ben Johnson said, “to be determined.”

3 Chicago White Sox takeaways from winter meetings, including adding 2 pitchers and losing 1 in Rule 5 draft

Nearly 24 hours after the Major League Baseball 2026 draft lottery, there was still plenty of buzz surrounding the Chicago White Sox securing the No. 1 pick.

“You can still feel the excitement in our room, that’s for sure,” general manager Chris Getz said. “I’m sure that is extended in Chicago and our fan base. Everyone that’s touching the Chicago White Sox right now is diving into the upcoming draft and what are some of the possibilities, and I would imagine that’s going to continue and pick up as we get closer.

Best rock, pop and hip hop of 2025: Amid a jammed year of concerts, this top 10 stood out

If your ears need a rest, we hear you. Chicago hosted an astonishing number of concerts in 2025, writes music critic Bob Gendron.

There was no shortage of events that lured fans from the city, the Midwest and places further afield. On that list: Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, K-pop stars Stray Kids and Paul McCartney. The last joined a surprising number of septuagenarian and octogenarian legends — Robert Plant, Paul Simon, Patti Smith, Neil Young, and the principal members of AC/DC and Kraftwerk included — who turned in memorable performances during the twilight of their careers.

Bummers and busts happened, but the disappointments help put into perspective the very good and the remarkable.

Related: 

Column: Nick Digilio is surviving the movie critic world and has ’40 Films’ to prove it

Nick Digilio’s book gives us short but snappy essays on the best films of the last four decades. It is, of course, easy to quibble with some of his judgments but that’s part of the fun with such a subjective journey.

Do you remember “Hope and Glory,” his pick as best film of 1987?

Is “Casualties of War” in 1989 a “masterpiece”?

What to do in Chicago: ‘Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol,’ a Cirque holiday show and Rod Wave’s ‘Redemption’

Here are our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.

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