* Sun-Times…

Mayor Lori Lightfoot called on President-elect Joe Biden to deliver significantly more COVID-19 vaccines to Chicago and other cities or face a drawn out pandemic that will last well into 2022.

Lightfoot, at a media event showcasing the first five Chicago health care workers receiving their second doses of vaccine, said that the rate of distribution to cities is way too slow and added that it will take Chicago almost a year and a half to vaccinate all the city’s residents unless things speed up.

* Center Square…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration refiled an emergency COVID-19 rule similar to one that expired Monday to continue statewide mask and social distancing requirements for Illinoisans for another 150 days. […]

Back in August, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association opposed a mask mandate rule because it meant the enforcers were store clerks, and that could put them in harm’s way. IRMA CEO Rob Karr applauded local governments that have since approved civil fines for individuals violating the mask rule, but there’s a patchwork across the state.

Karr said the statewide rule filed Monday by the Pritzker administration was an improvement over the expired rule.

“This puts in place that you can hand them something in writing,” Karr said. “So, you could give them a notice that IRMA had produced that said ‘you know you should be wearing a face mask, we may ask you to leave,’ and that helps the retailer avoid, try to avoid, some of those confrontations.”

The rule is here.

* This country needs to get its act together, man…

Bartender Josh Vaughn served the last drink at a Hilton hotel bar in Savannah on March 14. He was furloughed the next day. The company promptly filed paperwork for him to receive unemployment aid, yet he spent more than nine months waiting for the money.

Vaughn is among more than 1.2 million Americans stuck waiting months for desperately needed aid as states struggle to catch up with backlogs of unemployment claims stretching back to March, a Post analysis showed.

* The Atlantic has a story entitled “4 Numbers That Make the Pandemic’s Massive Death Toll Sink In”…

1. On average, each person in the U.S. who has died from COVID-19 was deprived of about 13 years of life.

2. For the first time since World War II, U.S. life expectancy at birth could drop by a full year.

3. About one in 800 Black Americans has died from COVID-19, while one in 1,325 white Americans has.

4. Roughly 3.1 million Americans have lost a close relative to COVID-19.

* Tribune live blog headlines…

Naperville D203 students and staff going back to school this month have option of weekly COVID-19 tests

Indiana COVID-19 hospitalizations increasing in new year; Lake County reports 13 new deaths

Lincoln Park, Brookfield Zoos now closed for extraordinary two-month breaks

Missing your stimulus check? Direct deposits issued, but some glitches; paper checks may take longer

Lightfoot says ‘exponential increase’ of COVID-19 vaccines needed to fight spread of coronavirus

More than half of CPS teachers expected to return did not; head of principal union hits school leaders for creating reopening plan behind closed doors

Federally funded food box program critical for charities during the pandemic extended through April - and now with more food choices

Chicago officials to give update on vaccination efforts as county officials announce funding for food delivery for vulnerable during pandemic

State officials warn of COVID-19 vaccine scams

University of Illinois’ COVID-19 saliva test moves closer to FDA approval, but not fast enough to meet the demand

‘Frenzy’ in Illinois real estate means more homebuyers are putting in same-day offers. Here are 7 tips to help you prepare.

* Sun-Times live blog headlines…

Germany agrees to extend coronavirus lockdown until Jan. 31

40% of Chicago teachers and staff didn’t report to schools as ordered, district says

Alex Trebek urges support for COVID-19 victims in first of final five shows

Lower Metra fares, improved Pace service for south suburban Cook County under new program

Unworkable City Council pandemic proposals could gravely harm Chicago’s hotel industry

* NBC Chicago live blog headlines…

Lincoln Park, Brookfield Zoos Announce Temporary Closures Until Spring

Chicago Teachers Could Be Next in Line For COVID Vaccine, Lightfoot Suggests

New COVID Strain Likely Already in Chicago, May Have Sparked 2nd Surge: Health Official

Half of Teachers Did Not Return to Chicago Public Schools as Ordered on Monday, District Says

Lightfoot, Chicago’s Top Doctor Update on Vaccine Rollout

Chicago COVID-19 Vaccine Map: See Where People Have Been Vaccinated by ZIP Code

When Might Tiered Mitigations Be Lifted? Here’s What the Governor Has Said

Chicago Teachers Conduct Remote Classes Outside School After Staff Ordered Back

Cook County Releases COVID Vaccine Registration Form for Residents