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1) Returns show potential route to passage for Illinois Workers' Rights Amendment. The Workers' Rights Amendment—a measure that would add protections to the Illinois state constitution for workers seeking to unionize, and prohibit any law from being passed that would interfere with those rights—is trending toward passage, but it may be a while before a final outcome is determined. Union leaders and supporters believe the measure will get a majority of all votes cast.

2) Chicago's Polar Express train ride cancelled for 2022 season. Organizers are hopeful they can bring the event back to Union Station in 2023. According to a message on The Polar Express website , a "systemwide shortage of railroad personnel" has left the station with "not enough certified operating crews available to run our trains this season."

3) Advocates for people with disabilities ask city to plow sidewalks. Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) plans to introduce an ordinance this month to launch a pilot for the city to clear sidewalks so those with disabilities and mobility issues can more easily navigate walkways during winter months. The pilot is estimated to cost $750,000 to cover staffing, materials, equipment and an impact study.

4) Lunch staff shortages persist at CPS as one school was unable to feed all students for first time. Cafeteria staff at Whitney Young Magnet High School were unable to feed all students one day last month due to an unforeseen staffing shortage. Administration were not informed until after the lunch period ended. Rickey Harris, Whitney Young's principal, did not say how many students missed out on lunch, but that CPS administrators assured the shortage would not happen again. Staffing and supply chain issues have plagued the district since last year.

5) Chicago group turning plastic bags into sleeping mats for people without housing. The group calls itself BAM, which stands for "Bags and Mats for those in need," and meets every Wednesday at Steve's Lounge on the city's far south side to weave plastic bags into sleeping mats. The group of women has so far made and distributed about 200 plastic sleeping mats to people without housing in Chicago.

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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 often find me reading to my two-year-old daughter, watching a tv series with my husband or cuddling with our special needs dog.

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