* Here you go…

* Sun-Times | SAFE-T Act faces next test in court, where opponents say it violates state Constitution: Lawyers argue that, “The Illinois Constitution interprets bail, at its core, to include a monetary amount that, though it may take different forms, cannot be abolished altogether without running afoul of the Constitution.”

* Ford County Chronicle | A life remembered: Sen. Scott Bennett made his native Gibson City proud: Indeed, a lot of people loved Sen. Bennett, D-Champaign, whose sudden, unexpected death Friday afternoon shocked and saddened countless people from his native Gibson City to across Illinois. From state officials and professional colleagues to constituents and friends, condolences came from around the state Friday for Sen. Bennett’s family, including his wife, Stacy, and their two young children, twins Emma and Sam.

* SJ-R | Illinois Democrats want to act with ‘urgency’ on proposal banning assault weapons : First introduced during the final week of the veto session by House firearm safety and reform working group chairman Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, House Bill 5855 would outlaw the manufacture, possession, delivery, selling, and purchasing of assault weapons, .50 caliber rifles, and .50 caliber cartridges. The proposal comes as firearm homicides increased by 35% from 2019 to 2020 nationwide, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

* WTTW | García Claims ‘Front Runner’ Status by 7 Points in Race for Mayor, Says Poll Commissioned by Operating Engineers Union: “Local 150 commissioned a comprehensive poll as an in-kind contribution to Garcia’s campaign,” said Ed Maher, the union’s spokesperson. “The poll made clear that García has broad support across the city of Chicago and that voters understand all of the positives that he will bring as mayor.”

* ABC Chicago | Chicago mayor race: Hearings held as Willie Wilson, Ja’Mal Green try to kick each other off ballot: Several candidates challenged the petition signatures of their rivals in attempt to disqualify them from the February election. There were a total of six hearings on Monday involving the race for mayor, but the two of note have pitted businessman Willie Wilson against community activist Ja’Mal Green as they try to boot another off the ballot.

* BGA Policy | How Illinois Courts Are Hidden From FOIA: To help shine light on Illinois’ judicial branch, BGA Policy is proud to lead the Court Transparency Coalition, which recommends that the judicial branch be added to the state’s Freedom of Information Act. The Coalition, composed of BGA Policy, The Civic Federation, the Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, Chicago Community Bond Fund, Chicago Council of Lawyers, Chicago Justice Project, Illinois Justice Project, the League of Women Voters of Illinois, Common Cause Illinois and Reform for Illinois has committed to advocating for change to FOIA by amending the FOIA law to include the judiciary.

* The Center Square | Illinois drivers can expect two gas tax increases in 2023: Motor fuel prices in Illinois are down nearly 70 cents a gallon since this time last month. However, the state is set to increase the fuel tax Jan. 1 by 3.1 cents a gallon, for a total of 42.3 cents per gallon, second highest in the U.S. Another increase will occur in the summer on July 1.

* Tribune | The Satanic Temple of Illinois has the right to build a holiday display in Springfield. Members say it’s about religious freedom.: For the fourth time since 2018, the Satanic Temple of Illinois — a statewide chapter with about 100 members, part of a religion boasting half a million followers internationally — was in Springfield on an early December morning, not to worship a devil or perform a ritual sacrifice. Odd as it sounds, the Satanic Temple does not recognize a Biblical Satan. It is a self-described nontheistic group dedicated to the pursuit of religious plurality, free thought and pushing back against any form of conformist doctrine.

* Tribune | Moms, rejected applicants decry new Chicago Fire Department exam procedures that shrink testing pool for city firefighters: Gone is the old-school method where tens of thousands of applicants sat at once for a written exam resulting in a hiring list whittled in the hiring process. City officials have abandoned wide-open hiring events of the past for smaller, more diverse pools of candidates, adding that those rejected could reapply to take the test in two years instead of the approximately 10 years between each exam.

* The Center Square | Lawmaker says Illinois has work to do for better senior care: Pritzker spoke at the event and promised to continue working to prioritize senior care. “Over the past year, I have partnered with CHA to provide more than $137 million to help finance the creation and preservation of nearly 1,400 affordable housing apartments across Chicago,” Pritzker said. “Many of those are set aside for seniors.”

* Sun-Times | Chicago Plan Commission endorses Bally’s casino plan: The action sends the zoning proposal to the City Council, but 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett Jr.’s objection could delay its consideration.

* FOX Chicago | Naperville man put stickers in the shape of swastikas on campaign signs: prosecutors: Between Oct. 2 and Oct. 16, Klingeman allegedly defaced two campaign signs for Gustin with swastika stickers he created with a marker and other stickers, prosecutors said.

* Tribune | NBA renames its MVP trophy after Michael Jordan — a 5-time winner of the award with the Chicago Bulls: The MVP trophy honors Jordan’s illustrious career, which included six NBA championships during his 13 seasons with the Bulls. Widely considered the greatest player in league history, Jordan received 11 All-NBA honors and 14 All-Star selections and won 10 scoring titles. In addition to the five MVP awards, he was named NBA Finals MVP six times, Defensive Player of the Year in 1988 and Rookie of the Year in 1985.