* It’s Friday, the end of a long week, and before we all unplug for a bit I want to remind you why our LSSI Christmas fundraiser matters so much.

For so many of these kids, Christmas isn’t guaranteed to feel like Christmas. These kids are navigating so much in their young lives. A gift may seem small, but to them it’s a moment of joy, a reminder that someone out there actually cares.

Since Monday, we’ve raised $36,525, which is enough to buy presents for 1,461 foster kids.

But that’s still only about 57 percent of the foster kids in LSSI’s care system. And since it’s the weekend, we’re not going to be able to hype this fundraiser much until Monday. So if you have a moment today, please contribute. If you already have, please tell a friend or share the link on social media. The more people who hear about what this drive does for these kids, the more smiles we can bring to them on Christmas morning. Thank you so much!

* Bloomberg…

The Canadian government told Stellantis NV it’s in default on its taxpayer-backed financial aid after it moved auto production to its plant in Belvidere, Industry Minister Melanie Joly said.

Joly first threatened to take legal action in October, shortly after Stellantis announced it was canceling plans to make the Jeep Compass SUV in Brampton, Ontario, and moving that vehicle to Illinois. The automaker said it would invest $13 billion in the US over four years, partly to mitigate tariff costs.

Governments in Canada pledged more than $358 million to Stellantis to help pay for capital costs in its two assembly plants in the country. About $157 million of that pledge has been paid to date, according to testimony reported by the New York Times.

“Today, on Dec. 4, I’m formally announcing that we’re serving Stellantis with a notice of default under the contracts,” Joly told a parliamentary committee.

* Crain’s…

Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago’s pre-eminent pediatric facility, will be out of network for all Affordable Care Act marketplace plans in 2026, cutting off access for families who rely on the exchange for coverage.

The loss reflects broader upheaval in Illinois’ and others states’ ACA marketplaces, where several insurers are exiting, premiums are surging and families face shrinking options during the current enrollment period.

Lurie, a safety-net hospital, accepts Medicaid and many commercial insurance plans. But in 2025 its sole contract with an ACA marketplace insurer was with Aetna CVS Health’s Individual & Family Plan PPO. However, starting next year Aetna will exit the Individual & Family Plan business. […]

“Lurie Children’s has consistently cared for ACA exchange-covered children since 2014, despite most exchange insurers choosing not to contract with academic centers for in-network coverage,” [Lurie Children’s] statement said. “Our website clarifies that we are out-of-network with all 2026 exchange plans so families can understand their benefits. We continue to work with families and their payors when children need specialty care unavailable in their network.”

*** Statewide ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois educators hope to tackle thorny issue of math competence: Even on the international stage, American students do not perform as well in math as their counterparts in many other industrialized democracies. Scores from the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, or TIMSS exam — a project of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics — showed eighth grade students in the U.S., on average, scored below their peers in countries like Singapore, Japan, Sweden and Australia.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Pacific Legal Foundation | Following PLF’s Discrimination Suit, Pritzker Signs Bill Ending Illinois’ Race-Exclusive Scholarship: The law, House Bill 3065, which took effect November 21, struck racial classifications from scholarship eligibility in Illinois. “Illinois cannot disqualify students from competing for a taxpayer-funded college scholarship because of their race,” said PLF attorney Samantha Romero-Drew. “Race-based discrimination is a blatant violation of the Equal Protection Clause.”

* WAND | New year, new laws: Illinois to roll out measures on roads, libraries and government efficiency: One new law gives clarification on cheating on DMV exams, allows the Secretary of State’s Office to give written tests online and enhances bicycle safety. The measure clarifies that any attempt to have someone else give answers to someone taking a DMV exam, including trying to use a hidden microphone or cell phone, is cheating.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Chicago headed for a bond rating drop if City Hall doesn’t get budget right, Civic Fed president says: In trying to salvage a proposed corporate head tax shot down by the City Council’s Finance Committee, Ferguson said Johnson has demonstrated an “almost willful blindness to the red flashing lights” all around him. One of those warnings was the recent decision by S&P Global Ratings to reduce Chicago’s credit outlook to negative, citing Johnson’s decision to cut in half — to $120 million — the city’s annual pension advance over and above the state mandated payment.

* Tribune | Chicago-based American Medical Association slams committee’s hepatitis B vaccine recommendations: The Chicago-based American Medical Association is blasting a federal vaccine advisory committee’s decision Friday to no longer recommend that all babies get the hepatitis B vaccine when they’re born. The committee’s decision “is reckless and undermines decades of public confidence in a proven, lifesaving vaccine,” said Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, an American Medical Association trustee in a statement Friday morning. “Today’s action is not based on scientific evidence, disregards data supporting the effectiveness of the Hepatitis B vaccine, and creates confusion for parents about how best to protect their newborns.”

* Sun-Times | Belmont Cragin restaurant owners say business ticking up — but not back to pre-immigration enforcement levels: “Some restaurants are starting to recover, but aren’t at pre-raid business yet,” said Alonso Zaragoza, a community organizer and founder of Belmont Cragin United, an online resource center for residents. “Things are looking up for businesses in the area though, and hopefully they are able to get back on track.”

* Sun-Tmes | Chicago’s 20-year development plan for Downtown calls for more nightlife, housing and greenery: The plan proposes extending the Chicago Riverwalk between Lake Street and the south branch of the Chicago River. It also proposes an extension between Wolf Point and the Wild Mile, as well as new water taxi stops. A southern extension would bring the Riverwalk to the Harrison Street bridge — and to Chinatown and The 78, where development of the Chicago Fire FC’s new stadium will soon take place.

* NBC Chicago | How the Bears-Packers rivalry began: A look at the oldest enemies in the NFL: “It’s almost like its own world championship on its own - Bears vs. Packers,” said former Bears player Israel Idonije, who played with Chicago for a decade. “I was here from ‘03 to ‘13. Chicago is always better when the Bears are winning, then you 10 times that when the Bears beat the Packers. It’s just another level of joy and excitement.” The two NFC North teams are founding members of the NFL and have played more games against each other than any other teams in the league.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Ninth District congressional candidate was convicted of sex crime against a juvenile, records show: Paul S. Friedman, 55, of Chicago was found guilty of misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Michigan in 1999, public records show. The crime occurred in Washtenaw County in 1998, when Friedman was 27 and the victim was 13, records indicate. In a telephone interview, Friedman said the charge was filed after he greeted a young customer at an Ann Arbor skateboard and snowboard shop he co-owned by kissing her cheek. The girl made other accusations, too, he said. Friedman said he pleaded no contest to the charge and avoided a trial. He was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to register as a sex offender, documents show.

* Daily Southtown | Orland Park $236 million budget calls for 18 new hires: The board also approved a property tax levy increase of 3.75% and signed off on a Dick’s Sporting Goods being added to the vacant Sears space at Orland Square mall. The village expects to spend $236 million and receive $201 million in revenues in 2026. The Police Department will receive a large portion of new funding to hire eight officers and one Freedom of Information Act clerk for an increase in requests for body camera footage, according to the village budget presentation.

* Aurora Beacon News | Preliminary plans for 900-unit residential development get approval from Campton Hills Village Board: The proposed development, called LaFox of Campton Hills, is set to be built on 962 acres generally bounded by Route 38 to the north, Keslinger Road to the south, Harley Road to the west and Brundige Road to the east. The area was previously unincorporated, but in September was annexed into Campton Hills in anticipation of the development. The area has weathered numerous proposals for development over the years, none of which have come to fruition. Proposals for developing the area have historically faced opposition by resident groups, but Shodeen’s pitch ultimately secured their support — through meetings with the local organizations and proposing a project with a lower density of homes and considerable open space.

* Daily Herald | Elgin manufacturing facility to close, eliminating 111 jobs: Printpack Inc. will close its Elgin manufacturing facility, resulting in the layoff of 111 employees. A statement from the Atlanta-based company, which manufactures flexible and rigid packaging for the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, said the company will wind down operations over the next six months. “It is never easy to make decisions that affect the lives and livelihoods of our associates,” Jack Austin, Printpack’s chief operating officer, said in the statement. “Our Elgin associates have demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism throughout the years.”

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | ‘Just a milestone’: Massey Commission final report asks public to help continue the work: “You know, we’re structuring something new and try to figure out how many recommendations we’re going to have for 2026 and 2027 and for years to come. But I think that as long as we’re keeping Sonya at the at the forefront of it all, we’ll be just fine,” Sontae said. Sontae and members of the commission said the push for change now falls on the public. They said it’s not just county officials who should be reading the report.

* WGEM | Tax levy increase due to growing public safety pension demands, Quincy mayor says: Moore said public safety personnel are generally living longer and retiring earlier while facing increased costs of living, making their pensions a growing expense. “As more people retire, and we have fewer active duty officers than retired officers, what’s coming in isn’t offsetting what’s going out, you know. That’s part of the problem as well,” Moore added.

* WGLT | ‘Disappointment’: Central Illinois Scouting leader reacts to military’s possible breakup with Scouts:Hegseth claimed the group was no longer a meritocracy and is designed to “attack boy-friendly spaces.” “We’ve had girls involved in our exploring and venturing programs, and when we made the decision as a movement to allow girls to begin to join … that decision was based off our members’, our families’ desire to be able to have a character education program that served their whole family,” [Ben Blumenberg is Scout Executive and CEO of the W.D. Boyce Council of Scouting America,] said. “Their sons and their daughters.”

* BND | Metro-east superintendent moving from one district to another: Castelli was officially appointed as Roxana’s new superintendent during the school board’s Nov. 25 meeting. She will begin her role July 1 and said she accepted the district’s annual salary offer of $155,000. Castelli said the Smithton Consolidated School District 130 board will officially accept her resignation at a special meeting in December, at which point the search for a new superintendent will begin. She will replace current Roxana Superintendent Debra Kreutztrager, who is retiring at the end of this school year.

* PJ Star | ‘Panic’ gives way to relief after fire at Downtown Peoria shelter: Panic and uncertainty gripped the residents of a supportive housing homeless shelter in Downtown Peoria on Thursday after a third intentionally set fire at New Hope Apartments broke the building’s fire alarm system. Residents of the building had worried Thursday morning they might have to leave after the city of Peoria deemed it was unsafe without a working fire alarm system. However, city officials and outreach teams worked Wednesday night and Thursday to make sure that no one had to be put out on the street.

* News-Gazette | Homeless shelter for families with children opens in downtown Champaign: The first-come, first-served pilot program screens families at a remote facility at 307 S. Neil St. Once approved, they can check into the shelter, which is within a half-mile, also in downtown Champaign. The RPC isn’t releasing the shelter’s specific location in the interest of guests’ safety. The shelter can hold around eight households each night, with a capacity of 24 individuals. There is no limit to how often a family can stay.

* WREX | Area chamber of commerce to cease operations at end of year: The Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce announced on Facebook that it will suspend its current operations on Dec. 31. The Chamber said the decision was made after several years of financial hardship that made their current business model unsustainable. The Chamber said they made efforts to reduce costs, including selling their building and moving to Phelps Plaza, lowering spending, limiting software expenses, and cutting staff hours.

* WREX | Realtors say immigration fear is influencing Rockford housing market: Rockford realtor and broker Jeanette Solis says she has seen the impact firsthand. “A lot of my clients decided not to move forward with the purchase because they’re afraid that they may or may not be picked up by ICE, whether it’s by racial profiling or at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

*** National ***

* WaPo | Frank Gehry, who stretched architecture’s boundaries, dies at 96: Mr. Gehry was considered one of the most imaginative and expressive architects of his generation and ranked among the most important designers since Frank Lloyd Wright. His works became landmarks around the world, challenged the rigid formalism of modernist architecture, blurred the borders of architecture and sculpture, and impelled new methods of design and construction. The Guggenheim Museum and Walt Disney Concert Hall — audaciously curvilinear monuments to high culture clad in shimmering titanium and steel — became Mr. Gehry’s ravishing signatures. Architect Philip Johnson, whose works epitomized modernist cool, once proclaimed Bilbao “the greatest building of our time.”

* The Hill | Supreme Court to decide if Trump can restrict birthright citizenship : In an unsigned order Friday, the Supreme Court announced it would review one of those underlying lawsuits backed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups. It is set to be heard during the justices’ current term, with a decision expected by summer. The Trump administration petitioned the high court to review the order’s constitutionality after judges blocked the executive order nationwide this summer.

* Indy Star | Indiana House passes Trump-requested mid-decade redistricting bill: It’s a significant milestone for the new congressional map proposal, drawn in direct response to a request from President Donald Trump after months of pressure, both direct and indirect. A dozen Republicans joined with Democrats in voting against the proposal.

* Politico | Trump-allied PACs target Indiana Republicans blocking redistricting push: Andrew Kolvet, spokesperson for Turning Point, told POLITICO that the group would partner with other aligned PACs to dedicate an “eight-figure spend” to “primary people that are standing in the way of the president’s agenda.” “We look at Indiana as a test case and a cautionary tale, potentially one or the other, it’s their choice,” Kolvet said. “This is a super high priority, and we’re going to be working with the local, grassroots to make sure their voices heard and their priorities are not steamrolled by an out-of-touch elected class.”

* KFF Health News | Health savings accounts, backed by GOP, cover fancy saunas but not insurance premiums: With the tax-free money in a health savings account, a person can pay for eyeglasses or medical exams, as well as a $1,700 baby bassinet or a $300 online parenting workshop. Those same dollars can’t be used, though, to pay for most baby formulas, toothbrushes — or insurance premiums.