COVID Peak / Dan Hampton Sentence / Cheese City / Kacey Musgraves

The "omicron surge" has peaked in Chicago.

But public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady says coronavirus cases remain at high levels and the city is "a long way from being out of the woods."

Chicago Passes 'Omicron Peak' As Coronavirus Cases Drop: Top Doc

Brrrrr. High: 18 Low: 10

• A celebration of what would have been actress Betty White's 100th birthday brought in more than $100,000 in donations for PAWS Chicago, the largest no-kill animal shelter in the Midwest. The late "Golden Girls" star was an avid animal lover and pioneering animal-rights activist. (Patch)
• Move over, Wisconsin cheeseheads, there's a new dairy sheriff in town. A new study conducted by LawnStarter tagged Chicago as 2022's best city for cheese aficionados to mark National Cheese Lover's Day, which is today. (Patch)
• The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments urging justices to overturn rulings that upheld the longstanding policy in Illinois that allows politicians to use campaign funds to pay legal fees associated with corruption probes. Justice Anne Burke, who is married to indicted Ald. Edward Burke, recused herself from the case. (WTTW)
• NFL Hall of Famer Dan Hampton won't spend time in jail for drunken driving. The former Bears great cut a plea deal that included a sentence for a year of probation. (Patch)

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For A Good Time, Click:

• Lomelda, Carm, Alexalone at Lincoln Hall (7 p.m.)
• Blake Burkhart at Reggies (7:30 p.m.)
• The Prince Experience at City Winery (8 p.m.)
• Alan Gresik’s Swing Orchestra at The Green Mill (8 p.m.)
• "Sleeping Beauty," "Swan Lake" at Chicago Symphony Orchestra (7:30 p.m.)
• Kacey Musgraves at United Center (8 p.m.)

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Just The Links:

• It's time to buy tickets for Texas rocker Matthew Logan Vasquez's Jan. 25 show at Schubas.
• Starting this week, restaurants will only include utensils in takeout orders upon request.
• A list of the best restaurants to get a vegetarian dish in Chicago.
• Watch the body camera footage of Hyde Park shootout, near University of Chicago.
• Looking for a bar or restaurant with heated patio? Eater Chicago has a list of the city's best.

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— Mark