Omicron Is Here / Smollett Grilled / Kings of Leon / Win $100

So you think your yard is home to the best Christmas yard display in Chicagoland?

Here's your chance to prove it — and win a $100 gift card.

Click this link to send pictures and descriptions of your holiday winter wonderland by Dec. 10.

For more details: Best Christmas Yard Displays Sought For 2021 Tour O' Lights

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Late Glimmer of Sun. High: 36 Low: 28.

• A Chicagoan has been diagnosed with Illinois' first case of the coronavirus Omicron variant. The infected person, who was fully vaccinated and received a booster jab, did not require hospitalization. (NBC5)
• Chicago police employees no longer have the highest percentage of vaccine status-reporting scofflaws. As of Monday, about 89 percent of police employees reported their coronavirus vaccine status as required under a City Hall mandate. That's better than the 84 percent of City Council workers who have reported whether they have received jabs. (Patch)
• Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett’s defense team rested their case on Tuesday, after the actor claimed the Osundairo brothers — the key prosecution witnesses in the case — asked him for $2 million to “go away” and say there were not involved in any hoax. (CBS2)
• Illinois policymakers hope to recruit parents and educators to provide input on how the state might spend a hoped-for windfall of federal funding for early childhood education, Patch news partner Chalkbeat reports. (Chalkbeat)
• A City Council committee balked at voting on an ordinance backed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot that would clear the way for professional sports teams to operate in-stadium sports betting. “What is in it for the Black people?” asked Ald. David Moore asked. (WGN)

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For A Good Time, Click:

• Whitney at Thalia Hall (8:30 p.m.)
• Chicago Immigrant Orchestra at Old Town School of Folk Music (8:30 p.m.)
• Emily Wolfe at Sleeping Village (8:30 p.m.)
• Ashley McBryde w/ Priscilla Block at The Vic Theatre (8 p.m.)
• The Nights We Stole Christmas with Kings of Leon at Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom (7 p.m.)

Just The Links:

• Bears tight end Jimmy Graham was nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
• The "Christmas Comet" is coming.
• Santa will be posing for pictures at Museum of Science and Industry until Dec. 10.
• A coming West Loop Distillery plans to tell a Chicago tale with each boozy sip.
• What's new on Netflix in December?

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Events:

• Pet Portraits with Santa! (December 11)
• 33% off a medical cannabis card certification until the end of 2021! (December 11)
• FREE-Family Food Distribution (December 11)
• Music Of The Baroque and Christmas Carols (December 11)
• Pet Portraits with Santa! (December 12)
• Chicago Artisan Market (Holiday Edition) in Fulton Market - Sun, Dec 12 | 10am-4pm (December 12)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (December 14)
• Meet the Makers of Shop Evanston Made Holiday Market (December 15)
• Chicago Scene New Year's Eve Party at The Drake Hotel (December 31)
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Announcements:

• Christmas Home/Storefront Decorating Contest (Details)
• Bobby Hull and Duke Sterk Appearing @ Sports Cards and More Show (Details)
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Free stuff:

• Best Learning App for Kids (Details)
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Job listings:

• Garage Door Technician (Details)
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— Mark