Former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke will be released from prison today.

Why it matters: Van Dyke was convicted in 2018 for killing Laquan McDonald. He served three years of his six-year, nine-month prison sentence and is now being released early for good behavior, but critics believe he should have spent longer behind bars.

What they're saying: "This is a clear and direct message to every awful law enforcement officer all across the country, if Jason Van Dyke is released," activist Will Calloway said at a recent press conference.

Driving the news: Activists and some Illinois lawmakers want the justice department to look into new federal civil rights charges against Van Dyke.

• They include Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland requesting a status update on the Justice Department's federal investigation.
• The Justice Department has declined to comment.

The latest: Calloway and other activists had called for a citywide transit strike to protest the early release.

• A protest dubbed "The day of outrage" is planned for today at 5pm.

Backstory: Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, the first on-duty Chicago police officer convicted of murder in almost 50 years.

• He could have served more time, but Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan decided not to sentence Van Dyke for the aggravated battery, only the second-degree murder.

What's next: Van Dyke could be transferred to a halfway house for up to 30 days before his outright release.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker used part of his budget speech yesterday to tout infrastructure projects.

Why it matters: Illinois has some of the most vulnerable bridges in the nation, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

• New to the Illinois list is the important US 60/62 bridge over the Mississippi River connecting Illinois and Missouri.

☃️ Who got the most snow so far? South Haven, Indiana, with 13.5 inches. (CBS 2 Chicago)

❄️ Now the fun part: your street getting plowed. Follow along with the city's plow tracker. (City of Chicago)

👩‍🏫 Chicago Teachers Union president Jesse Sharkey is not running for re-election. (ABC 7 Chicago)

💉 The restaurant vaccine mandate could be rolled back soon as COVID-19 case numbers fall. (Sun-Times)

🏑 Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz really doesn't want to talk about Kyle Beach. Wirtz berated reporters who asked about the organization's accountability and culture. (ESPN)

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We recently broke down some basic facts on dibs — Chicago's divisive tradition of saving shoveled parking spaces with junk — and it sparked plenty of ire on both sides of the issue.

• But it also inspired some interesting takes from our readers.

🌨 Cindy J.: "Dibs is fine for a short time, if it is a HUGE storm that has taken you hours to shovel out of."

🛷 Susan C.: "I have been in the Twin Cities during a snow emergency and the efficiency of their parking/plowing puts us to shame. It also builds awesome mini sledding hills along the parkways."

❤️ Cindy S. said her daughter recently averted dibs by shoveling the street on her whole block. "Random acts of kindness like this are what the city and world need more of. Hopefully she is able to have the use of one of the spots cleared. :)"

👎 Anne Marie C., a retired social worker who did house calls, explained how dibs can hurt home workers. "If I moved the dibs garbage I had to worry that my car would be damaged. Most of the time I ended up parking blocks away."

😡 David B.: "Nothing brings out the worst in people like 'dibs'...This is a terrible Chicago tradition that needs to end … It is illegal and it looks horrible to see all the garbage in the spots and is dangerous to the public … If you don't want to lose your parking spot, then take the bus."

Even with chicken wing prices soaring, we know many will be searching for this tasty game day treat on Feb. 13 for the Super Bowl. We crow here about our local favorites.

Monica's pick: I vote for the sweet, spicy and sticky lollipop wings invented in Albany Park in the 1980s, based on an old Korean-Chinese recipe that uses a full chicken. The OG versions come from Peking Mandarin and Great Sea on Lawrence Avenue (14 wings for $18.99).

• If you don't eat meat, check out Joanne Molinaro's awesome Korean Vegan tribute to Great Sea wings using tofu.

Justin's pick: Is there any other wing in Chicago that compares to Bird's Nest on Southport? The neighborhood dive bar serves delicious buffalo wings with various heat, but also slathers on teriyaki and barbeque if you're looking to vary it up.

• I've eaten a lot of wings in my time. These are still the best in Chicago (10 for $18.95).

🗳 So who wins? Vote here.

📬 Respond with your suggestions and we'll publish a reader's guide before the Super Bowl.

Earlier this week, we asked you if Sammy Sosa should be in the Hall of Fame.

• With a whopping 638 responses, you said:

👍 55.5% – Sammy should NOT be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

👎 45.5% – Sammy should be inducted.

Mike C. wrote: "I hate the Cubs but Sosa is an absolute Hall of Famer. Not sure why the Cubs completely disregard him nowadays."

The big picture: Former Cub Doug Glanville's piece sheds some light on how players look at the steroid issue and era.

The bottom line: The nays have it. We'll send this informal poll to Cooperstown. 😉