Nearly 1,000 new arrivals in Chicago have obtained work permits roughly four months after the Biden administration expanded eligibility to nearly a half-million more Venezuelans.

Why it matters: Paths to self-sufficiency are even more crucial now that the city has issued thousands of 60-day eviction notices to migrants in shelters and stopped opening new spaces under Mayor Brandon Johnson's new plan.

State of play: Gov. JB Pritzker expressed concern yesterday over the plan, especially the lack of city input on where the state should locate new shelters.

• "We can't help if they don't identify those locations," Pritzker said at an unrelated event Monday, according to the Tribune.

By the numbers: In November, Illinois officials identified nearly 4,650 individuals in Chicago shelters who probably qualify for either work permits (Employment Authorization Documents, or EADs) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which can confer work eligibility after 30 days.

• City figures show that roughly 2,200 applications have been processed (almost half EADs, half TPS) so far, with 916 work permits received.

The intrigue: Federal officials tell Axios that number is much higher. They say they've approved more than 1,800 work permits filed from state-run sign-up clinics in Chicago.

Between the lines: Turnaround times for permit approvals, which previously took months, have sped up to 30 days or less, according to state officials.

Yes, but: State officials initially thought about half of Chicago's shelter residents would qualify for TPS or EADs. After closer screenings, the estimate has dropped to about 30%, they tell Axios.

• That means about 70% of shelter residents, or more than 10,000 people, lack immediate legal pathways to self-sufficiency.

What they're saying: Remaining options include seeking a work permit five months after applying for asylum, qualifying for a visa as a victim of trafficking, or applying as a close relative of a citizen, Fred Tsao of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights tells Axios.

• President Biden could also expand TPS to a wider population of migrants, as he did in September. But Tsao notes that Congress is currently moving in the opposite direction, "considering limitations on those powers in the immigration enforcement for overseas war funding negotiations."

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A former Q101 host and executive producer is suing one of the biggest radio networks in town, alleging that he suffered workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Driving the news: Justin Nettlebeck, who resigned from WKQX in 2023 after almost five years at the station, filed a lawsuit against parent company Cumulus Media last month.

Context: Nettlebeck accuses then-Cumulus VP/Rock Formats and WKQX program director Troy Hanson of "harassment and discriminatory treatment on the basis of his gender, including sexual harassment." Nettlebeck alleges that Hanson was verbally abusive, using derogatory slurs while yelling at him and others.

• Nettlebeck also claims that he was retaliated against after he reported such behavior.

Details: The lawsuit includes allegations that Hanson:

• Showed sexually explicit materials to Nettlebeck while he was on air.
• Made sexual remarks about female employees to Nettlebeck, despite Nettlebeck's protests.
• Made graphic comments to female individuals while Nettlebeck was present, causing Nettlebeck anxiety and discomfort.

Zoom in: Nettlebeck says in the lawsuit that he reported this behavior to Marv Nyren, Cumulus' VP of Chicago operations, on six occasions, but that nothing was done.

• After reporting the alleged harassment, Nettlebeck says Hanson retaliated by continuing the behavior and even threatening suicide if Nettlebeck reported him again.
• Nettlebeck says he resigned last April because of the alleged retaliation.
• Less than a month later, Hanson stepped down and moved back to Nashville.

What they're saying: Cumulus Media didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Axios couldn't reach Hanson for comment. Nyren declined to comment on the pending litigation, citing company policy.

🗳 The City Council has postponed a vote, scheduled for this week, on a resolution urging a ceasefire in Gaza. (Tribune)

Chicago-area tech CEO Sanjay Shah was killed in an onstage accident at a company event in India. (CBS2)

⚾️ Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg announced yesterday he has prostate cancer. (Bleacher Nation)

🏀 DePaul fired men's basketball coach Tony Stubblefield after the team started the season 3-15. (ESPN)

The first round was easy for most of the 800+ voters. There were no notable upsets.

Yes, but: Our quest to crown the best Chicago coach of all time gets a bit tougher today.

• The bracket features huge matchups between two Bears titans and two coaches that defined the 2010s.

Who's ready to vote? Open till 4pm.

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The Roscoe Village "rat hole" has emerged as the latest strange phenomenon to capture Chicago's attention.

Why it matters: Chicago loves rallying behind odd, unexpected attractions, such as a rodent-shaped hole and a poop fountain statue.

Driving the news: Since going viral on social media, the "rat hole" has been honored with a shrine, has a Wikipedia page and even was the spot of a marriage proposal.

• So as Chicago officially welcomes this new spot into its strange Hall of Fame, let's look back on some other inductees.

Our Lady of the Underpass: A 2005 salt stain underneath a grimy Kennedy viaduct near Logan Square attracted people from all over the world because its shape resembled the Virgin Mary.

Chance the Snapper

It's not the first time an invasive species has shown up in a park lagoon, but the alligator drew thousands trying to get a glimpse in Humboldt Park. We even made the conservationist who finally caught the alligator a celebrity.

Kyle Schwarber's home run ball

As a rookie, Schwarber blasted a towering home run in the 2015 playoffs. The ball landed and stayed on the scoreboard.

• It's become part of Cubs fans' Wrigley Field experience to try to spot the ball, now encased in glass atop the right field scoreboard.

Plus, the piping plovers ...

⁉️ What did we miss for the viral Hall of Fame? Hit reply and let us know!