The fight over the city budget is done and the deadline to redraw Chicago's ward map is two weeks away.

Why it matters: The city council is in charge of creating 50 city wards that reflect the 2020 census. It happens every 10 years.

• According to the 2020 census, the population breakdown of Chicago is 31% white, 30% Latino, 29% Black and 7% Asian. The new maps should reflect these demographics.

Details: With the news of infighting, alternative maps and even possible litigation, it's hard to keep track of what is happening with the 2021 ward remap. Here's what you need to know:

Chinatown: The pressure is on for the council to carve out a ward that accurately represents Chicago's Asian community, which has grown 31% since 2010.

• Advocates are pushing for an Asian ward anchored in Chinatown, currently represented by three different wards. The new ward would need to carve out a part of Chinatown from the 11th ward, which represents Bridgeport and is the center of the Daley family's political power. This will be fascinating to watch.

Black Caucus vs. Latino Caucus: The two powerful caucuses have signaled they won't budge off their redistricting requests.

• The Black Caucus wants to keep its 18 seats even with a 10% decrease in the Black population since 2010.
• The Latino Caucus wants to add seats after the city's Latino population increased by 5%. They currently have 13 seats and want two more.

Lincoln Yards: The map fighting isn't just confined to the South Side. The $6 billion Lincoln Yards mega-development currently sits in the 2nd ward, but it used to be in the 32nd ward, so both wards want it.

• Words are heating up between Ald. Waguespack (32nd) and Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd).
• This area was also the source of one of the biggest (and weirdest) remap stories following the 2010 census.

Alternative maps: City council has to produce a map by December 1st, but the proposed map will go to the voters in 2022 if they don't meet the deadline. This opens the door for competing maps to be introduced.

• The new map wouldn't go into effect until 2023.

We've recently reported on the right way to dispose of leaves for composting — call 311 for a special pickup — but how some city workers have been tossing leaf bags in with garbage.

• We've also heard about special "off the books" leaf sweeps in Beverly where a scoop truck collects leaves.
• And last week we obtained documents showing that in some years, leaf collection has actually decreased as calls for leaf pickups have increased.

Why it matters: Mixing yard waste with garbage and sending it to landfills creates the powerful greenhouse gas methane.

What they're saying: For answers, we interviewed new Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) commissioner Cole Stallard.

• On the leaf bags getting tossed with garbage: "I'm not gonna deny that fact. It does happen sometimes as your story said. We're keeping track and taking [most leaves] to the place where they can be composted. But we have to do better."
• On the "off the books" Beverly leaf collection: Stallard says some super leafy areas require extra equipment. "We send a [scooping] front-end loader, a semi and a street sweeper. But, just so you know, all those leaves are being composted."
• DSS officials are still not sure why, in some years, leaf collection tonnage decreased when calls increased.

The good news: Chicago's most recent data shows collection rising with increased calls.

Yes, but: In recent years, the Oak Park waste department — which serves 4% as many homes as Chicago's — collected 100 times more leaves by weight.

• In other words, Chicago has some catching up to do.

👩‍⚖️ The jury is now deliberating in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. (Chicago Tribune)

⚾ The city's newest dispensary is now right next door to its largest beer garden after Cresco sets up its flagship store within blocks of Wrigley Field. (ABC 7 Chicago)

🐟 Block Club is getting to the bottom of the historic bighead carp catch in Humboldt Park. Local wildlife folks theorize it was there from an accidental dump years earlier. (Block Club Chicago)

While some people have returned to the office, others are easing out of remote work by using coworking spaces a few days a week in a new hybrid office model.

• Co-working giant WeWork tells Axios that daily bookings through their On Demand program in Chicago rose an average of 29% month-over-month from January 2021 to October 2021.
• Wednesdays and Thursdays are the most popular booking days in Chicago this year.

Most popular Chicago WeWork locations:

1. 515 N State St. (River North)

2. 220 N Green St (Fulton Market)

3. 330 N Wabash Ave. (River North)

How do you make a trip to a Maxwell Street-style food stand even more indulgent? By asking the staff to deep fry your Polish sausage.

• This semi-secret menu item is supposed to deliver extra snap to your already juicy, garlicky link.

The verdict: The deep-fried Polish we got at Jim's Original on Union emerged delicious and taut, but not much snappier than a regular griddled sausage.

• We did, however, love Jim's new-ish sport-pepper studded mustard.

The caveats: Yes, we know that deep frying can create carcinogenic compounds and meat is bad for the environment.

• But sometimes a small Chicago indulgence can tide us over for months.

Other spots to order a deep-fried Polish:

• Mikee's 1-2-3 in Pilsen — known as the home of the deep fried Polish.
• Express Grill next to Jim's Original in University Village.
• Papa Chris in Wildwood, where it's called The Big Stan.