Good afternoon, Chicago.

Pledging a transparent and compassionate approach to justice, Cook County’s new Chief Judge Charles Beach took his oath of office today before a crowd of judges, attorneys and state and local officials, becoming the first new leader of the county’s judiciary in nearly a quarter of a century.

Addressing the crowd in his first public comments as chief judge, Beach said the challenge they face is to ensure the court system “operates with principle and true humanity.”

“Our court is not merely a collection of buildings and procedures,” Beach said. “It is the vital mechanism of which our community resolves its deepest conflicts and upholds its most cherished ideals.”

Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.

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A man rides a Divvy bike through fresh flurries along West 18th Street in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, Nov. 30, 2025, after the city recorded over 8 inches of snow. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

As Chicago digs out from a snowy weekend, another winter punch — with more snow — is inbound

Chicagoans suited up in puffer jackets and toted sleds over the weekend during the city’s snowiest November day on record, which saw 8.4 inches of snowfall at Chicago O’Hare airport. And as if that weren’t enough, the area is expected to receive up to four inches of snow today during evening rush hour.

More top news stories:

• McHenry County takes on an old client in court: ICE
• Gary mom thankful to be back with children after immigration raid: ‘I didn’t know if I was going to see them again’

Leaves continue to plague South Shore Line with gooey residue

Gooey leaves on the rails have caused the South Shore Line’s on-time performance to plummet in November, leaving railroad officials scrambling for additional ways to address the problem.

More top business stories:

• Travelers without Real ID will incur $45 fee, TSA says
• Why Cyber Monday could break spending records despite economic uncertainty

5 college football takeaways: Illinois’ snowy win, Jeremiyah Love’s showing — and a marquee Big Ten title game

Before we turn our attention to the postseason, here’s a quick look at how Big Ten teams and Notre Dame finished Week 14 — including a few wild weather games.

More top sports stories:

• Chicago Blackhawks score 5 unanswered goals to defeat Anaheim Ducks 5-3 and snap 5-game winless streak
• Last-second jumper sinks the Chicago Bulls in 103-101 loss — and drops them under .500

Appreciation: Why Tom Stoppard was my favorite living playwright

Whereas most playwrights offer us their personal view of the world, often communicated with the moral or political certainty they feel, Tom Stoppard simply concentrated on making sure we learned that the world was more complicated than we knew when we first sat down in our seats.

More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:

• For Aurora siblings, marching in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ‘really cool’
• Long-lost Rubens painting depicting crucifixion sells for $2.7M

Pope Leo XIV’s visit highlights Christian resilience in Lebanon despite regional turmoil

Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon over the weekend is a recognition of the importance of Lebanon’s religious pluralism and a message to Christians not to abandon the region.

More top stories from around the world:

• Former Trump lawyer Alina Habba disqualified as New Jersey prosecutor, US appeals court rules
• Luigi Mangione fights to exclude gun, notes as anniversary of UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing nears