Illinois settles suit against Monsanto for $120 million – Chicago Tribune

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Hello, Chicago.

Illinois has reached a deal worth at least $120 million with Monsanto Co., the largest producer of now-banned PCBs, to combat long-standing contamination statewide.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul sued Monsanto in 2022 for denying the health and environmental dangers of the dangerous synthetic chemical, known as polychlorinated biphenyls. The lawsuit alleged that Monsanto knowingly concealed the dangers of PCBs and continued to produce and distribute them for decades.

Under the agreement, the state will receive $80 million by March 31, which will be disbursed to Chicago and nine surrounding cities: Evanston, Lake Forest, North Chicago, Zion, Beach Park, Glencoe, Lake Bluff, Winnetka and Winthrop Harbor.

Read the full story.

Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: what to know about a new Illinois vaccine guidelines law, what happened at Wieners Circle when hungry Bears fans lined up at 5 a.m., and a look at the winners of the 2025 holiday cookie contest.

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Ranking Member U.S. Senator Dick Durbin speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, February 12, 2025, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Ranking Member U.S. Senator Dick Durbin speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, February 12, 2025, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Senator Dick Durbin demands answers from Homeland Security regarding US citizens caught in immigration raids

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently claimed that no US citizens were caught in the Trump administration’s immigration raids.

But that’s wrong, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said in a six-page letter to Noem that demands answers about the department’s detention of U.S. citizens and cites a Chicago Tribune article.

Gov. JB Prtizker holds Illinois House Bill 767 after signing it Dec. 2, 2025, at the Illinois Department of Human Rights office in Chicago's West Loop. The legislation formally establishes a process for state-level vaccine guidelines and expands pharmacy access to COVID-19 and other vaccines for young children in Illinois. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
Gov. JB Prtizker holds Illinois House Bill 767 after signing it Dec. 2, 2025, at the Illinois Department of Human Rights office in Chicago’s West Loop. The legislation formally establishes a process for state-level vaccine guidelines and expands pharmacy access to COVID-19 and other vaccines for young children in Illinois. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker signs law on Illinois vaccine guidelines amid current tumult with Trump administration

Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation that formally establishes a process for state-level vaccine guidelines and expands pharmacy access to COVID-19 and other vaccines for Illinois’ young children.

Travaris resident Ivy leads media through the building at 7500 S. South Shore Drive in Chicago on December 2, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Travaris resident Ivy leads media through the building at 7500 S. South Shore Drive in Chicago on December 2, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

First, ICE raided their Chicago building. Today, they are forced to leave it.

On a frigid Tuesday morning after Chicago’s snowiest November day on record, residents of an apartment building that made international headlines after a federal immigration raid earlier this year decried a recent court-ordered mandate to vacate their home at 7500 South Shore Drive.

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks during a ceremony at Malcolm X College on December 2, 2025 in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks during a ceremony at Malcolm X College on December 2, 2025 in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Aldermen call for increased trash and liquor taxes instead of corporate head tax

A majority of the City Council introduced a budget plan that raises trash collection fees and alcohol taxes while eliminating Mayor Brandon Johnson’s corporate head tax entirely for 2026, hours after he issued a scathing rebuke to opponents of his controversial levy proposal.

Shoppers stroll around Gurnee Mills on a Thursday afternoon. The mall recently announced a series of new businesses coming next year.
Shoppers stroll around Gurnee Mills on a Thursday afternoon. (Joe States/Pioneer Press)

Village approves participation in new Gurnee Mills store: IKEA?

Gurnee Mills will soon have one less vacancy after the Gurnee Village Board voted to approve a deal to renovate vacant tenant spaces.

Jocelyn Gubler, vice president of development at Simon Property Group, wouldn’t say which store would be moving into the space, but shared some clues. “This retailer has launched smaller-format stores, complementing its larger, standard-size warehouse-style environment in 27 U.S. states and territories,” she said. “[One] of these stores just opened in San Marcos, Texas, earlier this year.

Fenwick's Logan Schultz (77), Jake Thies (8) and Mike Murphy (5) celebrate with the trophy after beating East St. Louis in the Class 6A state championship game in Normal on Dec. 2, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson/for Pioneer Press)
Fenwick’s Logan Schultz (77), Jake Thies (8) and Mike Murphy (5) celebrate with the trophy after beating East St. Louis in the Class 6A state championship game in Normal on Dec. 2, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson/for Pioneer Press)

Jake Thies’ interception is another unforgettable moment for a ‘great player’ as Fenwick wins 6A state title

Capping an impressive performance that included two touchdown passes, Jake Thies returned an interception 39 yards to the East St. Louis 3-yard line with 2:30 left, all but sealing Fenwick’s second state title. Senior quarterback Jamen Williams Jr. scored on the next play as the Friars won 38-28 at Illinois State’s Hancock Stadium.

Providence's Xavier Coleman (2) attempts to shake off a St. Francis defender during the Class 5A state championship game in Normal on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown)
Providence’s Xavier Coleman (2) attempts to shake off a St. Francis defender during the Class 5A state championship game in Normal on Dec. 2, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown)

Big catches. Big games. Just another day at the state office for Providence’s Xavier Coleman. “Congratulations to my team.”

Xavier Coleman had four catches for 107 yards and a touchdown, but the Celtics fell just short in the final seconds, losing 39-35 to Wheaton St. Francis in the Class 5A championship game at Illinois State’s Hancock Stadium.

With blocking center Drew Dalman (52), Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws a pass in the first quarter against the Eagles on Nov. 28, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
With blocking center Drew Dalman (52), Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws a pass in the first quarter against the Eagles on Nov. 28, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Stats show troubling trend in Caleb Williams’ accuracy, but Ben Johnson says to ‘throw them out the window’

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams made a pair of “oh, no” throws Friday that would have been the talking point of the week if the Bears hadn’t beaten the Philadelphia Eagles on the national stage.

Nora Riordan collects a free hot dog as Bears fans line up, Dec. 2, 2025, at Wieners Circle in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood after coach Ben Johnson took off his shirt during a postgame celebration for a victory against the Eagles. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Nora Riordan collects a free hot dog as Bears fans wait in line, Dec. 2, 2025, at Wieners Circle in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood after coach Ben Johnson took off his shirt during a postgame celebration for a victory against the Eagles. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears fans line up for free Wieners Circle hot dogs again, cheering ‘thanks, Ben Johnson’

It happened again. A line of hyper-hungry Bears fans began forming outside Wieners Circle at 5 a.m. yesterday, despite the bitter 23-degree temperature. It was all in the name of free hot dogs, courtesy of Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who took on the hot dog stand challenge and took his shirt off after Friday’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Winners of the Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Winners of the Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

2025 Holiday Cookie Contest Winners Announced

For the 39th annual Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest, readers submitted recipes for sweet treats, including biscotti and shortbread, bars and balls, and classic chocolate chip and sugar cookies. Some recipes were decades old, passed down from grandparents, aunts, neighbors and friends, and modified over the years.

More than 1,800 readers voted on the 12 finalists selected by Tribune staff for judging. Guest judges Justin Lerias of Del Sur, Reema Patel, formerly of Sarima Cafe, and Asa Balanoff Naiditch of Blame Butter selected this year’s best cookie.

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