Hey there. I’m out in the frozen tundra formerly known as the suburbs, visiting my parents and trying to figure out how to convince my dog to go outside. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Around 190 million Americans are under some type of weather advisory

That’s according to the National Weather Service as a massive winter storm hits large parts of the nation, from the Plains and Midwest to the East Coast.

The storm comes as AAA estimates nearly 113 million people will travel 50 miles or more from their homes between tomorrow and Jan. 2, the Associated Press reports. [AP]

In Chicago, nearly 3 million travelers are expected to cycle through the city’s airports over the next week, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. As of this morning, more than 450 flights had been canceled at O’Hare International Airport and about 240 at Midway Airport.

City officials are urging residents to stay off roads before Christmas, remain indoors if possible and check in on neighbors through the weekend.

“It’s critical for residents to be patient, take care of themselves and look out for each other,” said Rich Guidice, executive director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications. “Staying connected is key to being safe.” [Chicago Sun-Times]

If your flight plans have been impacted by the storm, NPR has this straightforward guide on how airlines are responding. [NPR]

Meanwhile, here’s a look back at some of Chicago’s gnarliest snowstorms. [WBEZ]

2. The U.S. life expectancy continued to fall in 2021, largely driven by COVID and drug overdoses

The average U.S. life expectancy continued its alarming decline last year, dropping to 76.4 years — down from 77 in 2020, according to federal data released today. It is the shortest expected life span in nearly two decades.

“It’s rare to see such big changes in life span year to year, but the pandemic claimed nearly 417,000 lives last year — more than even the year before — making COVID-19 the third leading cause of death for the second consecutive year,” NPR reports.

Another major factor for the decline were deaths from drug overdoses. The U.S. recorded over 106,000 last year, according to federal data.

Heart disease and cancer remained the leading causes of death in the U.S. [NPR]

3. Congress may overhaul retirement plans, making it easier for Americans to save

The $1.7 trillion spending bill to fund the federal government contains proposed changes to how retirement plans work, reports The Washington Post.

Called the Secure Act 2.0, the changes are aimed at boosting the savings of low- and middle-income workers, Americans with student debt and people who have not started a retirement plan.

The proposed law would provide matching contributions — up to $1,000 — from the federal government for workers making less than $71,000 a year.

For Americans with student loan debt, the proposal allows employers to “make contributions to retirement accounts based on an employee’s student loan payments,” the Post reports. [Washington Post]

4. Sean Hannity said he knew all along that Trump lost the 2020 election

The Fox News star admitted under oath that he never believed former President Donald Trump’s false claims that he lost the 2020 election because of a voting tech company, reports NPR.

“That stands in contrast to what played out on some of Fox’s biggest shows — including Hannity’s. On television, Fox News hosts, stars and guests amplified and embraced such wild and false claims, made by Trump, his campaign lawyers and surrogates, presenting them to millions of viewers,” reports NPR’s David Folkenflik.

Hannity’s deposition emerged yesterday in a Delaware Superior Court hearing regarding a $1.6 billion defamation suit brought on by Dominion Voting Systems.

Dominion, which is suing Fox News and parent company Fox Corp, says it was unjustly damaged by the false claims that its machines were intentionally rerouting Trump’s votes for Joe Biden. [NPR]

5. Emmett Till and his mother are honored with a Congressional Gold Medal

The House this week unanimously passed a bill awarding the medal to Emmett Till, the Chicago teenager murdered by white supremacists in the 1950s, and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, reports the Associated Press.

It is the highest civilian honor that Congress awards. The medal will be given to the National Museum of African American History, where it will be displayed near the casket Till was buried in.

“The courage and activism demonstrated by Emmett’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, in displaying to the world the brutality endured by her son helped awaken the nation’s conscience, forcing America to reckon with its failure to address racism and the glaring injustices that stem from such hatred,” said Sen. Cory Booker after the Senate passed the bill in January. [AP]

Here’s what else is happening

• Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried made his first appearance in a U.S. courtroom today. [AP]
• Hackers in North Korea have stolen an estimated $1.2 billion in cryptocurrency and other virtual assets in the past five years. [NPR]
• “Defiant Jazz” earned a nod in this cheeky look back at the best and worst of TV this year. [Hollywood Reporter]
• Dogs can … smell time? [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

I don’t say this enough, but thank you for reading and supporting The Rundown. I know the news hasn’t always been great this year, but it really brightens my day to see your emails in my inbox.

And it also fills me with joy to see y’all enjoying the new Rundown podcast that’s hosted by my colleague Erin Allen, who is one of the best people to work alongside. The podcast has been a great success so far, so thank you for making that happen.

To show our appreciation, we are hosting a giveaway — a chance to win tickets to see international supergroup IL Divo in Chicago. They are quite the lookers.

You can enter the giveaway, and find the rules, by clicking on this link.

Tell me something good …

The new year is barreling toward us. I’d like to know what brought you joy in 2022. It’s an open-ended question and could be anything.

Ron writes:

“While this was my third year volunteering at the Model Railroad Garden (Chicago Botanic Garden), I added some bells and whistles (pun intended). I position myself by the Thomas the Train layout, and when children see Thomas they get excited.

“Sometimes while they’re watching the train, I’ll stop it in front of them, pull a wooden train whistle from my pocket, give a short ‘toot’ and watch their excitement as the train pulls away. It’s nothing short of magical.”

And Sandra writes:

“The highlight of 2022 was the opportunity to take a trip to Seattle to visit my daughter and her boyfriend. It was my first extended vacation since the pandemic and my first trip to Washington state. We visited Olympia National Forest, hunted for mushrooms, and I was able to enjoy a lovely city. I took Amtrak home, and like your other reader, was awed by the splendor of our vast country, like waking up in the mountains of Montana.”

Feel free to email me, and your response might be shared in the newsletter this week.