The corruption trial of former Ald. Ed Burke is now in the hands of jurors.

Why it matters: The trial of the longest-serving alderperson in Chicago history has shed new light on the way Chicago politics operated for years.

Catch up fast: Federal prosecutors have accused Burke of abusing his power, alleging he forced people who wanted to do business with the city to also do business with him and his private tax appeal law firm.

• This isn't a new revelation, the media has been reporting on Burke's alleged conflict of interest for years (for that matter, Madigan too). But in 2016, the feds used wiretaps to build a corruption case against him.

What they're saying: In the closing arguments, Burke's attorney told the jury, "Nobody thought they were a victim until the FBI came knocking on their doors saying, 'I think you're a victim.'"

Here are key takeaways from the trial to help you get up to speed for an eventual verdict.

The witnesses: Burke never took the stand. Meanwhile, former Ald. Danny Solis testifying for the defense shocked many.

• Solis was not called by the prosecution, despite the conversations he secretly recorded of Burke being central to their case. Instead, the defense seized on the prosecution's non-move, using closing arguments to attempt to raise doubts about Solis' credibility.

The tapes: The jury was presented with more than 100 secret recordings of Burke. Among the most attention-grabbing: Burke speaking about a development deal for the Old Post Office building, saying, "The cash register has not rung yet."

The courtroom: For all the theatrics that come with an old-school political corruption trial, this one was a bit subdued. The best moment came when a juror inexplicably bought treats for the courtroom therapy dogs.

• A dog threw up and forced a recess.

What's ahead: If there's no verdict by Friday, deliberations will pause until the new year.

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The Chicago area has only a 30% historical probability of snow on December 25.

Context: The dry holiday comes as temperatures are expected to be 10-20 degrees higher than normal in the Midwest, Axios' Rebecca Falconer and Andrew Freedman report.

Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration has created a database showing how much the city is spending to care for and house more than 25,000 new arrivals.

Why it matters: Transparency. Since October 2022, the city has spent $138 million to support the thousands of migrants arriving mostly from Texas, and the public has been left largely in the dark about where the money is going.

• The city's costliest expenditure, Favorite Healthcare, is under increased scrutiny after the death and hospitalizations of children staying at a shelter the staffing company is running.

How it works: The database includes cumulative payments for costs associated with the city's New Arrival Mission and breaks down expenses by vendor and payment amount, dating back to October 2022.

• The administration says it will update the portal on the 10th of each month.

By the numbers: The city has paid Favorite Healthcare $93.7 million as part of the New Arrivals Mission.

• The city is paying more than $19 million to Equitable Social Solutions, LLC, which works to provide stable housing for individuals and families.
• Local landscaping companies Christy Webber Landscapes and Speedy Gonzalez Landscaping received about $1,200 and $15,000 from the city, respectively.

The intrigue: A Portage Park home decor store received $5,350 from the city.

• The mayor's office did not respond to Axios' request for comment about the invoices.

😷 Health officials say a "tripledemic" is upon us as COVID, RSV, and the flu virus spike nationwide. (Tribune)

⛺️ The city removed several tents from a controversial West Loop encampment yesterday to clean the sidewalks. Some people living there opted to leave for shelters, while others returned after the cleanup. (ABC 7)

👩‍⚖️ The U.S. Supreme Court has taken up a case that involves a corruption law at the center of the upcoming Mike Madigan trial. It could force the trial to be delayed. (Sun-Times)

👋 Hello! It's Carrie, spreading word about a new breakfast sandwich in town.

Driving the news: Los Angeles-based Egg Tuck opened its first location outside California earlier this month at 326 N. Michigan in the Loop.

• There are two more locations planned in Chicago, according to Block Club.

The bite: The Avo Egg sandwich ($8.99) is made with a soft buttery brioche, overflowing with creamy scrambled eggs and topped with its signature sauce, fresh avocado, and chives.

• The tangy-ish sauce was chilled which was a little startling at first, but the eggs delivered on the creaminess.

Plus: There are many ways to customize, including with Korean beef ribs, pickles, and onions. You can also order it in a burrito.

Pro tip: Skip the tater tots and put the sriracha mayo sauce on your sammy.

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Where's Justin this week? Here's a hint:

• The legendary mural on the North Side
• Where Lincoln Avenue defies the grid
• You know where you are when you see it
• Justin lived across from it as a (20-year-old) kid

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