🫦 Will Bears succumb to Hoosier temptation?

Ex-Cop Who Murdered Sonya Massey Gets 20 Years

Sean Grayson, the former sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed Sonya Massey in 2024 was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Massey had called 911 over a suspected prowler outside her Springfield home, and Grayson was the responding officer. He was convicted of second-degree murder in October. [Tribune 🔒]

Bad News on the Weather Front

Despite hopes for a sudden warm-up, it looks like this weekend will be extra frigid. With wind chill, it’ll still feel below-zero outside … and more snow is on the way. [Block Club]

• Wait: But is it a polar vortex? [Hey Chicago 💻]

Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Affairs and Parking Meter Negotiations

After calls to better protect Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community, Mayor Johnson has officially announced Antonio King as the new Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs. We discuss the hire on today’s episode of City Cast Chicago, along with Windy City Times’ Jake Wittich and Crain’s Chicago’s Justin Laurence. Also discussed: Greg Bovino’s demotion, closed-door parking meter negotiations, and Benny the Bull. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

This Week’s Must-Read

“Remind me … Why do we go other places?” columnist Neil Steinberg says of Psistaria Taverna in Lincolnwood. I have actually uttered these exact words while at Psistaria, my family’s go-to Greek restaurant. Steinberg also shouts out the eternally affordable Pita Inn: another suburban fave. [Sun-Times]

• My Psistaria order for the table: Taramosalata (ask for extra sesame bread), gigantes, dolmades, saganaki (obviously), Chef George’s salad, fried zucchini, peas (yes, peas), and a gyros appetizer. Thank me later.

In this week, full of national unrest, the headlines kept coming. Were you paying attention?