In this week’s edition of Spotlight Politics:

Mayor Lori Lightfoot gambles on a 2% Chicago sports betting tax, but some aldermen aren’t playing. More casinos have been approved for the suburbs, and five Chicago Casino proposals will get a hearing next week.

The City Council ward remap battle rages on, but with much less public rhetoric.

In Springfield, a democrat introduced a bill that would force the unvaccinated to pay for their COVID-19 hospitalization costs. Then a Republican proposed a competing bill that would outlaw discrimination against people who choose not to be vaccinated for religious or personal beliefs.

Read: Competing COVID-19 Vaccine Bills Proposed in Illinois

The omicron variant officially descended on Chicago and health officials worry about the “significant surge” that’s already happening here. And the city considers requiring proof of vaccination at indoor venues.

With a very high number of homicides this year, Mayor Lightfoot condemns the courts for releasing violent offenders back on the streets in days, allowing them to commit more crimes.

And, a violent flash mob hit downtown and forced the Chicago Police Department to reevaluate its strategy.

Our politics team of Amanda Vinicky, Paris Schutz and Heather Cherone takes on those stories and more.