Hey there! It’s Thursday, and I’m wondering if the Sex and the City reboot will have any sizzle without Samantha. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. FDA authorizes COVID-19 booster shots for some teenagers

As the omicron variant continues to spread throughout the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration today approved booster shots of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 16- and 17-year-olds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on the decision soon after.

While researchers are still studying how well immunity from existing vaccines will hold up against omicron, health officials are urging Americans to get their boosters for additional protection. The extra jabs have already shown to be effective against delta, which remains the dominant variant in the U.S.

“Vaccination and getting a booster when eligible, along with other preventive measures like masking and avoiding large crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, remain our most effective methods for fighting COVID-19,” Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting FDA commissioner, said in a statement. [AP]

And earlier this week, the agency added another tool to its arsenal: AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 antibody drug. The first therapy of its kind to be approved in the U.S., the treatment meant to prevent coronavirus symptoms got the green light for use in immunocompromised patients. [Axios]

2. New poll finds messaging missteps for Democrats ahead of 2022 midterms

A new NPR/Marist poll finds major warning signs for President Joe Biden and other Democrats ahead of the 2022 midterms, with 61% of respondents saying the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction.

While the majority of those surveyed said they supported the bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed this fall, fewer were convinced Biden’s Build Back Better plan would help people like them. Rising inflation also remained a top concern among respondents.

Democrats “don’t have a unified message for what they’re doing, and that does not bode well for the party,” said Barbara Carvalho, director of the Marist poll. [NPR]

Biden today focused on problems abroad, calling on world leaders to defend global democracy during Day 1 of a virtual summit. [AP]

3. The Chicago Transit Authority cut back service during the pandemic

Feel like you’ve been waiting forever for your bus or train lately? That might be because the CTA has been running fewer scheduled trips than in early 2020, a Chicago Tribune analysis finds.

Despite claiming to be the only major U.S. transit agency to avoid cutbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, CTA data shows some lines saw sharp reductions in service. While each CTA train line ran at least 92% of its scheduled trips in January and February 2020, the Brown Line, for example, ran just 69% of scheduled trips in January 2021. Bus riders also saw longer delays between trips.

In a statement, the CTA said it had “occasionally” not met scheduled service levels due to temporary staffing shortages. A “substantial number” of drivers left during the pandemic and the agency isn’t moving quickly enough to replace them, said Keith Hill, president of the union that represents CTA bus drivers and other CTA employees. [Chicago Tribune]

4. Illinois is one step closer to placing bets at two new suburban Chicago casinos

Illinois dealt another card in its massive gambling expansion this week when state regulators picked developers for two new casino projects.

For the site in north suburban Waukegan, gambling officials picked Las Vegas-based Full House Resorts Inc., which beat out a proposal from the Forest County Potawatomi Community and a bid backed by a former Wisconsin state senator. Homewood and East Hazel Crest won the casino license for the south suburbs, with Alabama-based Wind Creek Hospitality chosen to lead development.

Progress on the projects comes more than two years after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a state gambling law that created six new casino licenses in Illinois. So far, only the Hard Rock in Rockford has started taking bets. [Chicago Sun-Times]

5. New Zealand has a new plan to end smoking

To tamp down on tobacco use, health officials in New Zealand have a bold proposal: a lifetime smoking ban for youth.

So how would this new plan work? Residents currently aged 14 and under would be permanently prohibited from buying cigarettes, even once they turn 18. Meanwhile, the minimum legal age to buy cigarettes would increase each year, meaning that 65 years after the law took effect, you’d have to be at least 80 to purchase a pack. The number of stores allowed to sell tobacco products would also be reduced, but the changes wouldn’t affect vaping.

“We think vaping’s a really appropriate quit tool,” said Associate Health Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall, arguing that smoking – a leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand – remains the bigger threat. [AP]

Here’s what else is happening

• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is investigating whether aldermanic power hampers affordable housing projects in Chicago. [Chicago Tribune]

• Starbucks workers formed their first U.S. union in Buffalo, N.Y. [NPR]

• New York’s attorney general plans to depose former President Donald Trump in a civil investigation into possible fraud within his company. [Washington Post]

• Lawmakers are paying tribute to late Sen. Bob Dole as he lies in state today at the U.S. Capitol. [CNN]

• Downstate Donuts, a farmers market favorite known for its potato-based pastries, hopes to set up shop in Andersonville. [Block Club Chicago]

Oh, and one more thing …

Move over, Billie Eilish — there’s a new Billy lighting up social media, at least in the suburbs.

An 800-pound bison has been causing a stir in Cary, about 45 miles northwest of Chicago, since escaping from a nearby farm in September. Named Billy by fans, the runaway buffalo has become somewhat of a local legend, inspiring art, jokes and cheers of support.

“I never thought in a million years there would be some giant animal running around the suburbs like this,” said resident Nichole Campbell, who painted a portrait of the beloved bovine titled “Free Billy” after the 1993 film Free Willy.

While Billy’s owners have tried using bait and drones to track her down, police say she’s been “as elusive as Sasquatch” so far. Some admirers hope she evades capture forever, but others want the bison bandit to head home before the weather gets colder. [Chicago Tribune]

Tell me something good …

What’s your favorite holiday tradition? Is there a place in Chicago you always hit up? Do you and your family or friends do anything fun together?

Dr. Nando writes:

“The not-quite-Mrs. and me have a few holiday traditions that are worth sharing. The first is visiting the Christkindlmarket before it officially opens so that we can enjoy all that’s there without being too cramped.

The next is the Toys For Tots Motorcycle Parade. In rain or shine, I’ve been riding in it every year since 2006 and the to-be-Mrs. has happily joined me every year since we’ve been together in 2014 … (keeper!)

Newly added this year is a Krampus parade that starts at the DMen Tap that walks to Revolution Brewing for some refreshments then back to enjoy some more tasty beverages and great food.

Finally, because we dislike shenanigans (😉), we round up some homies and celebrate Festivus by heading to a brewery or two or three, then enjoy some airing of grievances over Festivus dinner at the nearest hearty burger joint/diner.”

What about you? Feel free to email or tweet us, and your responses might appear in the newsletter this week.