* Last week, we discussed how the population had fallen almost 7 percent to 13,900 people since late December. It’s now down to 13,200, which is an 11.4 percent drop from that same period in time, and a five-point drop from last week. Heather is using numbers for just the past month, which is also, of course, a valid way of looking at things..

* From Isabel…

* NBC Chicago | Food service for asylum seekers in Chicago takes center stage amid new contract : Johnson also provided reporters with an update on the his meeting about the migrant crisis that he had with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Johnson repeated the same message he has had for several weeks. “My responsibility that I’ve taken on is to provide temporary emergency shelter and I’ve done that,” he said.

* WGN | Migrant family concerned about housing, employment as they welcome newborn: He says while the birth of his son is a blessing, but the things keeping him up at night are future housing, the need for a work permit and nutrition available inside city shelters. Nutrition changes are underway inside shelters.

* Loyola Phoenix | A Close-Knit Community: Rogers Park Resident Starts ‘500 Hats for Refugees’: Amidst bitter wind chill and a record-breaking cold stretch, Margie Chan packed hundreds of both handmade and donated hats, knitting supplies and hot chocolate ingredients into two friends’ cars. Although local weather advisories suggested people stay inside, Chan was bound for the Edgewater branch of the Chicago Public Library. With aims of providing hats to local migrants, her “Hats and Hot Chocolate” pop-up prevailed — even on a day of record-breaking cold. The event is part of Chan’s broader initiative toward migrant relief, which she called “500 Hats for Refugees.”

* Patch | Darien Asked About Migrants Coming In: [Mayor Joe Marchese] said no such buses have arrived locally because Darien has no train station or downtown. As such, he said the city sees no need to pass bus regulations.

* Naperville Sun | Naperville City Councilman Josh McBroom applauds migrant busing in letter to Texas governor, says his Naperville host idea meant to be ‘provocative’: Since broaching the idea at a Jan. 16 council meeting, [Naperville City Councilman Josh McBroom] has been quoted in the New York Times and interviewed by Fox News and his suggestion has prompted hundreds of comments on social media, some lauding his actions and others accusing him of posturing.

* NYT | $2.4 Billion Is Not Enough for New York’s Migrant Crisis, Adams Says: Testifying at the State Capitol in Albany, the mayor told lawmakers that the state would need to pony up at least half the cost of caring for migrants to keep the city from making drastic budget cuts, a figure his team put at $4.6 billion.

* ABC Colorado | Denver sees little support from other cities, even as it asks for help dealing with migrants: Denver has a $180 million problem, and no other cities seem to have the resources or desire to help. It’s becoming clear that Denver isn’t getting much aid from other Colorado municipalities when it comes to solving the migrant crisis. Some cities are even telling migrants to stay away. […] In Wheat Ridge, a deal Denver tried to make with a private hotel to house migrants fell apart before it was even finalized. In Lakewood, the mayor says any migrants needing services there will be referred back to Denver. in Aurora, Denver was forced to close a hotel shelter it rented out for migrants once the public found out about it.