🛒 Chicago’s big grocery problem

Who is Paying Police Overtime at Street Festivals?

Event organizers are required to pay for police overtime at street festivals under city law, but the city — and taxpayers — are often getting stuck with the bill. [CBS Chicago, Block Club]

Yellow Line Crash Effects Linger

More than a year after a Yellow Line train collided with a snowplow on the tracks, the train line also known as the Skokie Swift is slower and attracting fewer riders. [Tribune 🔒]

• The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the crash that injured about 40 people. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Jeremy Allen White Lookalike Crowned

Glenview resident Ben Shabad took home the prize for looking like the star of “The Bear” at a Humboldt Park contest over the weekend. Don’t just take our word for it: See for yourself. Shabad and White could be twins — or at least cousins. [Axios]

Where to Find Fresh Food in Chicago

Aldi abruptly closed its West Pullman store last week, leaving yet another Chicago neighborhood without easy access to fresh food. The move leaves us wondering (once again) if big grocery chains are Chicago’s only option. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Introducing THC–Spiked Giardiniera

J.P. Graziano and nuEra have teamed up to sell a cannabis-infused version of the pickled condiment — just in time for the holidays. [Eater]

We all know how stressful the holiday season can be. From Thanksgiving through New Year's, many of us have a calendar filled with events, parties, and family gatherings, not to mention the cooking, hosting, and gift-buying we are tasked with. Add traveling somewhere during the holiday season and that's just an entirely new level of stress! I have flown many times around the holidays, both within the U.S. and abroad, and also taken long road trips to visit family during this season. It's safe to say I'm a seasoned traveler.

Whether you plan to take a road trip to see family or fly somewhere within our country or beyond, here are some helpful travel tips to help alleviate some of your stress this upcoming holiday season:

Check the weather if you plan on driving, and time your drive accordingly.

I was working on a TV show in Maryland several years ago and decided to drive the six hours to Rhode Island to enjoy Thanksgiving with my family. Well, it actually took me about eight hours due to snowy weather and a bad car accident on the highway that caused a massive detour. Whenever I take a long road trip now, I check both the weather and traffic conditions to help me plan when to leave and the best route to take. Due to family road trips during the holiday season, you may have to leave an hour or two earlier than you normally would to account for traffic, weather, and any detours along the way.

Whether you're flying or driving, pack snacks, a book, and/or a tablet.

Make sure you pack enough snacks for your journey no matter how you get to your destination. Furthermore, loading your tablet with your favorite shows or bringing a good book is a great way to pass the time and take your mind off any travel anxiety you may have.

Send any presents to your destination ahead of time.

This travel tip has saved me huge headaches. I usually avoid crowds as much as possible and do most of my shopping online. However, instead of having everything delivered to my house, I will have it shipped in my name to a family member's house instead and wrap everything when I arrive. This saves on room in my luggage and any additional baggage fees as well as gives me the peace of mind that your bag full of gifts won't get lost by the airline.