Good morning, Chicago. Central to Illinois’ plan to expand energy resources and affordability is a program that could allow homes and businesses to become virtual power plants by contributing energy from their solar batteries to the electrical grid as early as in the next two years. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, passed during the state legislature’s veto session in late October and awaiting the governor’s signature, targets the procurement of 3 gigawatts of energy storage by 2030, enough to power millions of homes statewide. One of the ways the energy bill aims to reach that goal is through the creation of a virtual power plant program that will pool energy from thousands of existing and newly built solar battery systems to the grid during peak hours of electricity use. Read the full story. And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including why Chicago Zoning Committee meetings were paused, what Bears coach Ben Johnson said about the regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions and the best food photos of 2025 by Chicago Tribune photographers. Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles Games | Today in History Marimar Martinez outside a truck service shop on Dec. 26, 2025, where she called 911 after she was shot five times in October by a Border Patrol agent in Brighton Park. Prosecutors originally claimed Martinez, as part of a convoy of protesters, rammed federal agents' vehicle near 39th Street and Kedzie Avenue and then tried to run over an agent, but felony charges were later dropped after her attorney argued agents caused the crash and needlessly shot her. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Rioters? Agitators? Immigration agents’ claims against US citizens mostly fall apart in court. A week before Halloween, the Trump administration compared the alleged violence its federal immigration agents encountered on a particular day in the Chicago area to a plot ripped from a Hollywood movie about the FBI takedown of a brutal drug cartel. The administration said U.S. citizens “stalked law enforcement, rammed vehicles, fled scenes, injured agents, and caused multiple accidents.” It called them “agitators” and “rioters.” Agents arrested six citizens, accusing them of impeding law enforcement and — in one case — alleging that a woman vowed to put out a hit on U.S. Customs and Border Protection Cmdr. Gregory Bovino. But, two months later, the allegations in that 24 hours have not withstood the harsh light of the federal court system. Just one of the six people has faced any federal charge. And that’s a misdemeanor ticket that agents themselves issued. It has yet to go in front of a judge. U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by Republican lawmakers, signs the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law during an Independence Day military family picnic on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2025, in Washington. (Samuel Corum/Getty) Feds to award Illinois $193M next year for rural health care as part of Big Beautiful Bill Act, as state braces for Medicaid cuts. The federal government is awarding Illinois $193 million next year to support rural health care — money that’s part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but not enough to make up for Medicaid cuts from the measure, state health leaders say. Ald. Bennett Lawson, 44th, left, and Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, talk outside the chamber before a City Council meeting on Dec. 29, 2025, at City Hall. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) North Side alderman pausing Chicago Zoning Committee meetings to pressure Mayor Brandon Johnson to pick chairperson The interim chair of the Chicago City Council’s Zoning Committee is halting its meetings to try to force Mayor Brandon Johnson to appoint a permanent head of the critical committee. Wally Stock, Chicago Public Schools acting chief financial officer, walks away after speaking during a Chicago Board of Education budget hearing, March 14, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) CPS board hikes property tax levy to capture extra $25M The Chicago Board of Education voted to increase its property tax levy, a move expected to yield an additional $20 million to $25 million for the school district. CPS says ‘miscellaneous’ school workers shouldn’t be allowed to unionize Workers build a stage on North Franklin Street at Wacker Drive on Dec. 29, 2025, ahead of the New Year’s Eve festivities in Chicago’s Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Brandon Johnson, Larry Snelling urge parents to be mindful of teens ahead of downtown NYE celebration Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling urged local parents to keep vigilant over their teens’ whereabouts ahead of the city’s planned New Year’s Eve celebration in the Loop this week. “Please know where your children are,” Snelling said, before repeating his plea two more times. “We have a lot of young people who go down(town) and do the right thing and they’re enjoying themselves and they’re responsible,” Snelling said. “But then we have young people who show up and they’re down there for the purpose of causing problems.” Bears head coach Ben Johnson watches the second quarter against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Ben Johnson says the Bears are ‘playing to win’ in Week 18 finale against the Detroit Lions Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson said his team will be “playing to win” during the regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field. Here’s what else Johnson had to say yesterday following Sunday night’s 42-38 loss against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif. Who would be the Bears’ most favorable 1st-round matchup? 5 pressing questions before Week 18. Sign up for our Bears Insider newsletter Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) celebrates with fans after an NCAA college football game against Southern California, Sept. 27, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman) What’s the meaning of a non-CFP bowl for Illinois? A springboard to 2026 and a goodbye to Luke Altmyer Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman has College Football Playoff aspirations for the Illini, but he also doesn’t subscribe to the “CFP or bust” way of thinking, at least at this juncture for the program. There’s value in the Illini playing Tennessee in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl at 4:30 p.m. today at Nissan Stadium, Whitman believes, even if it’s not the ultimate goal. Lobster salad with fish sauce vinaigrette, melted leek aioli and herbs at John's Food and Wine in Chicago on March 21, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) The best food photos of 2025 by Chicago Tribune photographers Photographing in some of Chicago’s finest dining establishments can be quite a contradiction to the normal day for Chicago Tribune photojournalists. In the course of a day, our photographers might start at an overnight crime scene, maybe a building fire, could go to City Hall or a school event. But when we walk into restaurants that feature Michelin-starred menus or Beard Award-winning chefs, our photojournalists really have to change gears. Here’s just a sample of the food pictures our photographers produced. The 100 best photos of 2025 by Chicago Tribune photographers A dramatic stained-glass window at St. Giles' Cathedral depicts John Knox in the middle of one of his many fiery sermons. (Cameron Hewitt/Rick Steves' Europe) Rick Steves’ Europe: Edinburgh’s Royal Mile There’s no better introduction to Edinburgh – the historical, cultural, and political capital of Scotland – than a walk straight down the spine of the old town. Stretching from a hill-topping castle to a queen’s palace, this ramble is appropriately called the Royal Mile. Despite being crammed with tourists, it’s one of Europe’s best sightseeing walks. Nicole Kidman plays Kay Scarpetta in "Scarpetta." (Connie Chornuk/Amazon) TV for winter 2026: A new ‘Game of Thrones’ spinoff, ‘Bridgerton’ returns and Nicole Kidman leads a new series The overriding theme defining television in recent years has been a fear of the new. Which is why reboots and spinoffs continue apace, with old titles brought back from the dead (“Scrubs”) or from the not-so-distant past (“The Night Manager”) and intellectual property milked within an inch of its life (somehow HBO has yet another “Game of Thrones” series coming our way). ...read more read less