Good afternoon. Tomorrow’s forecast still looks dangerous. Be safe out there. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. The latest on tomorrow’s major winter storm

Change your travel plans and stay inside if possible.

That’s what Chicago officials and weather experts are advising as a major winter storm is expected to hit the area tomorrow, sending temperatures plunging 25 degrees in a matter of hours.

The Chicago area may see up to 5 inches of snow between Thursday afternoon and Friday. But weather experts say their main concern is wind gusts of up to 50 mph and extreme cold. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Several airlines have already begun to rebook flights in anticipation of tomorrow’s storm. NPR looks at what American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines are providing for travelers impacted by the storm. [NPR]

Meanwhile, Chicago’s public schools will remain open tomorrow, but after-school programs have been canceled. [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. Zelenskyy will address Congress tonight at a pivotal moment in the war in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to address a joint session of Congress tonight beginning at 6:30 p.m. WBEZ will air special coverage on 91.5 FM, online and on our smartphone app.

Zelenskyy’s visit — the first since Russia’s invasion — comes as the Biden administration today announced new security aid to Ukraine that includes a Patriot surface-to-air missile battery.

This missile system is one of the most sophisticated weapons transfers of the war so far.

And it comes as Russia uses missiles and Iranian drones to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread energy and water outages as winter sets in, NPR reports. [NPR]

3. The SAFE-T Act’s first legal test could be decided by Dec. 28

A Kankakee County judge this week heard legal arguments over Illinois’ sweeping criminal justice reform law that ends cash bail on Jan. 1.

And he gave no hints on how he might rule in a short window of time, an effort he called a “monumental task,” reports my colleague Jon Seidel at the Chicago Sun-Times.

“The arguments Tuesday were held in an effort to resolve roughly 60 lawsuits, now combined, brought by prosecutors and sheriffs around the state,” Jon reports. “It is the first of what will likely be many legal challenges to the SAFE-T Act.”

Opponents say the law violates the state’s Constitution, pointing to a passage that, they argue, allows judges to set bail involving money. Critics also say state lawmakers did not follow proper procedures in passing the law.

Supporters say the law addresses long-standing public safety issues, police distrust and a system that lets wealthy defendants buy their way out of jail. [Chicago Sun-Times]

4. High-speed internet access will be expanded to underserved communities throughout Illinois

The White House this week announced Illinois will receive $253.7 million in federal funds to connect 87,613 households and businesses to high speed internet, reports my colleague Lynn Sweet at the Chicago Sun-Times.

“During the pandemic, the issue of digital inequities in rural Illinois and parts of the Chicago area with high numbers of low-income residents became more important as much of everyday activity is conducted over the internet,” Lynn reports.

Many low-income households may be eligible for internet discounts of up to $30 a month, and you can click on this link to see if you’re eligible and sign up. [Chicago Sun-Times]

5. Move over, Mariah Carey. Here’s how Chicago crooner Nat King Cole shaped Christmas traditions.

Way before Mariah Carey, Nat King Cole’s six-time platinum “The Christmas Song” ruled the airwaves, writes my colleague Cianna Greaves.

“It was written by Chicago pianist Mel Torme and lyricist Bob Wells in 1945,” she writes. “The pair worked on the song during a particularly hot California summer. The imagery in those famous opening lines — ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack frost nipping at your nose…’ — was an attempt by Wells to ‘stay cool by thinking cool.’ ”

Just in time for the holidays, Cianna talks to WBEZ contributor and urban historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas about Cole’s ties to Chicago and how the city set him on a path to success. [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

• Elon Musk says he’ll step down as head of Twitter once a replacement is found. [NPR]
• An invasive form of strep A and other rare bacterial infections are appearing in the U.S. and Europe. [Washington Post]
• Chicago rapper-actor Common makes his Broadway debut. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• With Chicago’s elections quickly approaching, here’s an explainer on who does what at City Hall. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

The avalanche of “best of 2022” continues, but here’s one that caught my eye: the best horror movies of the year, as determined by The Hollywood Reporter.

The No. 1 spot is no surprise, and I won’t ruin it if you’d like to see for yourself. But also on the list is a movie that genuinely terrified me: Barbarian.

Seriously, I can’t remember a movie that spooked me out that much. I even saw it with friends and still got goosebumps. Do not, under any circumstances, watch this movie alone. [Hollywood Reporter]

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.

Renuka writes:

“What brings me joy from 2022? The emotional, sentimental performances my daughter engaged in through Uniting Voices Chicago ALL year long! Telling you, live music is a blessing! Whether it’s a choir, church or temple hymns, rap, hip-hop, folk, pop, gospel, blues singing, just listening will open your eyes and life to new worlds.”

Anne Sullivan writes:

“I did a train trip with a friend of 50 years this summer. Glacier National Park, Portland, San Francisco (on the Fourth of July!), then Rocky Mountain National Park on the way home. What a gorgeous country we live in!”

And Theresa and Tom write:

“Our daughter is in vet school and got herself a dog last May — a boxer hound mix named Butters. He is 45 pounds but thinks he is a lap dog.

“We met him this summer when we visited. Her pictures make me laugh. Matching cow costumes for Halloween, a birthday hat, on top of a rock after hiking through water (which he is not fond of), in a jail wagon and behind pumpkins at a pumpkin farm. And Butters looking like he is tolerating these things because she feeds me, takes me to the dog park and loves me.”

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