* Here you go…

* WILL 100 | Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch on abortion, the SAFE-T act, labor rights, and more.: Republicans in the Illinois House and Senate have chosen new leaders to begin in January 2023, but Democratic lawmakers are going to continue under their current leaders. In the Illinois House, that means another term for Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. He joined The 21st to discuss cash bail, the recently passed Workers’ Rights Amendment, the state budget, and more.

* WTTW | Illinois State Legislators Reach Bipartisan Deal to Pay Off Unemployment Fund Debt: On Tuesday, leaders announced a bipartisan plan, which also has the backing of business and labor, to eliminate the $1.8 billion remainder of that debt, including paying back an interest-incurring federal loan that had been used to shore up the fund.

* Tribune | Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces bipartisan deal to plug nearly $1.4 billion hole in unemployment fund: Pritzker’s announcement came as state legislators gathered at the Capitol for the final session of the year, with negotiations still ongoing over what’s expected to be the primary agenda item — tweaks to controversial criminal justice measures set to take effect Jan. 1.

* Tribune | CEOs of Jewel, Mariano’s parent companies defend proposed megamerger before Senate lawmakers: At a hearing in Washington, D.C., before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s panel on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, expressed concern that the proposed merger would lead to higher food prices at a time when Americans are already facing inflated food costs. Groceries were up 12.4% in October when compared with the same time last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

* Sun-Times | Business leaders to form political action committee to prevent City Council from making sharp left turn: Mike Ruemmler, who managed Rahm Emanuel’s 2015 mayoral reelection campaign, said he plans to form a committee bankrolled by business leaders to elect moderate alderpersons.

* Effingham Radio | IL Freedom Caucus Calls for End of Consent Calendar in the Illinois House of Representatives: The Consent Calendar is a list of bills bundled together and voted on in one roll call vote. The list of bills includes ceremonial legislation such as measures to change the name of roads to honor members of the community, but the list also includes substantive legislation. The Illinois Freedom Caucus is issuing the following statement on the need to end the Consent Calendar.

* CBS Chicago | Justice Anne Burke serving last day on Illinois Supreme Court Wednesday: Today is chief justice Anne Burke’s last day on the Illinois Supreme Court. Burke has served on the state’s highest court for more than 16 years.

* WCIA | Sangamon County Father of the Year receives statehouse proclamation : Dave Dahl, the news director of Springfield radio station WTAX, was awarded Father of the Year from the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood back in early October. On Tuesday, representatives from the Illinois House of Representatives recognized Dahl with a proclamation.

* Tribune | As candidates for Chicago mayor jockey for union support, ‘Chuy’ García lands a big labor endorsement: With the business community largely sitting out the mayor’s race so far, union support will be especially critical in determining who sits on the fifth floor at City Hall. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has tried to ally herself with trade unions, while Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson has received support from progressive labor groups including the Chicago Teachers Union, SEIU 73 and SEIU Healthcare.

* Sun-Times | Bally’s officials address concerns about temporary Medinah Temple casino at community meeting: Bally’s casino is set to temporarily occupy the historic Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Ave., before moving to its permanent riverfront location on Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street.

* Block Club Chicago | Life And Death In Chicago’s Most Dangerous Bike Lane: In Chicago’s busiest bike lane along Milwaukee Avenue, there have been 50 reported crashes and three deaths since 2020 as cyclists navigate the city’s patchwork approach to safety.

* CBS Chicago | Former Illinois state Rep. Eugene Barnes dies: Barnes died Sunday, Nov. 13. He was 91 years old.

* WTVO | New Illinois law going into effect January 1st requires all homes have 10-year smoke detectors: According to Public Act 100-0200, which was passed in 2017, smoke alarms that were installed in homes prior to January 1st can remain in place until they are 10 years old.

* Daily Southtown | Mokena’s ‘Walking Man’ reaches 25,000-mile goal on eve of 87th birthday: Tom Sullivan’s journey “around the earth” began with a single step back in 2000, when he made a new year-new century goal to walk a thousand miles. Last month, the 87-year-old financial planner — yes, he’s still working — logged his 25,000th mile, the equivalent of the circumference of the earth.

* WSIL | Illinois & Missouri monitoring potential avian flu outbreaks in waterfowl: According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), more than 300 waterbirds, primarily snow geese, have died of suspected avian bird flu at public hunting areas in southern Illinois. The deceased wild birds have been found at Baldwin Lake, Pyramid State Recreation Area, Rend Lake, and Carlyle Lake in recent days.