* Interesting…

* Here’s your morning roundup…

* Herald & Review | In ’stronger’ political position, Pritzker enters second term with ‘flexibility’ on policy agenda: With Democrats expanding their supermajority to a 78-40 advantage over Republicans in the House and maintaining a 40-19 edge in the Senate, Pritzker will have more allies in the Capitol seeking to enact a progressive policy agenda.

* CBS Chicago | Illinois senators still debating assault weapons ban: The Illinois State Senate Executive Committee is meeting and they will likely discuss an assault weapons ban and reproductive rights. These discussions will take place before the Senate goes into a full session around 1:30 p.m.

* NBC Chicago | Proposed Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Still on Table, But Clock is Ticking For Senate to Vote:The legislation passed by House and the one currently being considered by the Senate aren’t quite the same. And Sunday, the Senate took up neither the House’s bill, nor their own proposal, which House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch referred to as “watered-down.”

* NBC Chicago | Illinois Senate Adjourns Without Vote on Assault Weapons Ban, to Resume Session Monday: While Illinois state senators debated a bill to help address the statewide bus driver shortage and another dealing with the length of windmill blades Sunday, the focus for many was on whether lawmakers would bring a proposed assault weapons ban for a vote. The State Senate was expected to vote on its version of the ban, but adjourned without one taking place.

* Tribune | Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Senate Democrats at odds over gun legislation as session enters final days: The dust-up pitted Pritzker and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch of Hillside against Senate President Don Harmon, a fellow Democrat from Oak Park. A similar scenario played out in the summer of 2021 during negotiations over a massive clean energy bill before the Democrats reached a compromise.

* Daily Herald | Expressway shootings dropped by nearly 40% in 2022. Here’s why and where they occurred.: Reports of highway gunplay, almost all in Chicago and the suburbs, surged to 310 in 2021, sparking outrage and prompting installation of cameras that capture license plates.

* Illinois Newsroom | Faraci selected as new state senator in 52nd District: Speaking during the announcement, Vermilion County Democratic Party chair Sandra Lawlyes said the selection committee took into account the wishes of Stacy Bennett, Scott’s widow, who is serving the final days of his current term “It was also of the utmost importance to me that we honor Stacy Bennett’s preferences on behalf of her husband,” Lawlyes said. “I’m confident that Paul Faraci will continue Scott Bennett’s legacy during Scott’s remaining term and go on to forge his own on behalf of both counties in the 52nd Senate District.”

* Greg Hinz | Springfield won’t soon see another pol like this one: There are lots of ways to political fame. Having survived AIDS, multiple suicide attempts and governmental chaos are not normally among them. But then Greg Harris is not your typical Illinois legislator. Harris this coming week, on Jan. 11, will officially retire as Illinois House majority leader. The 67-year-old North Sider will do so with a bucket full of accomplishments, a sterling reputation and a long list of admirers on both sides of the legislative aisle. Whatever your political persuasion is, he’s a testament to the fact that, even in these dark times, American democracy can and does produce surprise winners.

* AP | 18% legislative pay raises started with Pritzker, though he sought raises only for the cabinet: The idea for raising salaries of top Illinois state government officials, which culminated this weekend with the House and Senate voting lawmakers an 18% pay hike, began with Gov. J.B. Pritzker. But the Democratic governor said he originally requested that the General Assembly increase pay only for his administration’s agency directors, in order to recruit and retain top talent. Pritzker said he wouldn’t presume to tell the General Assembly what its members should be paid.

* Northwest Herald | It’s time to abolish township form of government in Illinois: It is no secret Illinois leads the nation in sky-high property taxes. One of the largest driving factors is the huge number of local government bodies in Illinois, each with property tax authority that is largely unchecked in any meaningful way. Legislators often run on the promise of property tax relief, yet few discuss whether these units are truly necessary and take any reasonable steps to consolidate duplicative bodies or remove irrelevant and superfluous ones.

* Sun-Times | The Wiener’s Circle owner coordinates effort to feed migrants bused from Texas: “What better way to welcome them than with a Chicago style hot dog?” asked Wiener’s Circle owner Ari Levy, who delivered the food Tuesday to a location owned by a North Side church that’s been helping care for the migrants.

* CBS Chicago | Illinois state reps, Chicago aldermen oppose planned migrant shelter at old Woodlawn school: “We do believe that this community has a right to have a voice in what happens here,” said State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). “But we also know that we can’t pit Black and Brown people against each other. It’s happened for generations, and we’re standing here saying that we will not stand for it. We’re standing here saying that this mayor and this city has to have a plan both for asylum seekers and for communities that have been here.”

* NBC Chicago | Colorado Will Stop Bussing Migrants to Chicago and New York City, Governor Says: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has pledged to stop busing migrants to Chicago after Mayor Lori Lightfoot sent a letter, warning that the city has no additional room to accommodate more arrivals. Meanwhile, groups are calling on officials to figure out where the migrants who’ve already arrived in Chicago will be housed.

* CBS Chicago | Rev. James Meeks, founder and senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church, retiring after 38 years of ministry: At his final service Sunday morning at 109th and Cottage Grove, which he called bittersweet, there were tears of sadness and tears of joy. Rev. Meeks is well known for his activism. His projects include helping to close dozens of liquor stores in Roseland and making sure every prisoner in Illinois has a Bible on cassette.

* Sun-Times | Illinois Rep. Mary Miller, 20 other hardliners gain power in deal to back Kevin McCarthy for speaker: “I look forward to working with the House Republican Conference to stop Joe Biden’s destructive, radical, leftist agenda,” Rep. Mary Miller said in a statement.

* Sun-Times | Peoples Gas seeks record $402 million rate hike next year: The utility’s filing with the Illinois Commerce Commission marks its first rate increase proposal since 2014 — but it’s the biggest one the utility has sought, consumer advocates say.

* Tribune | Hundreds of Englewood homes were razed for a railroad expansion. Those who remain on Chicago’s South Side want clean air, green space and jobs.: Hundreds of homes in the South Side neighborhood had already been bought and razed by Norfolk Southern to make room for a proposed expansion. Joyce Edwards was the last holdout, and Norfolk Southern acquired her home — purchased by her father in 1963 — through eminent domain.

* NYT | Mass Arrests in Brazil After Anti-Democracy Riots: Scores were taken into custody after supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s far-right former president, stormed official buildings in the capital to protest what they falsely believe was a stolen election.

* SJ-R | Author, political insider Blumenthal will headline Abraham Lincoln birthday banquet: Blumenthal’s five-volume biography, “The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln,” is nearing completion with the last two books, covering 1860 to 1865, on their way. Blumenthal’s talk in Springfield will address the yet-to-be-published works.