Good afternoon, Chicago.

The administration of President Donald Trump has issued a blistering order for the city and state to come up with a safety plan to boost police on the CTA and take other steps or once again risk vital federal funding.

In letters yesterday to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker, Trump’s Federal Transit Administrator Marc Molinaro threatened to withhold funds if the CTA does not comply with the demands of a “special directive” issued by the feds by the start of next week.

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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Illinois has its latest list of endangered species — the end result of many difficult choices

Every five years, a small group of biologists and environmentalists assemble in a large corner office in Springfield with long glass windows. Inside that room, they weigh in on the fate of every animal and plant that exists in Illinois.

More top news stories:

• Gov. JB Pritzker signs Illinois immigration law that curbs courthouse arrests and expands right to sue agents
• Border Patrol agent charged with robbing, raping women in Chicago suburbs in 2022
• Chicago weather: Wintry mix to usher in snow starting tonight

ComEd offers customers $803 million in energy credits while seeking $268 million reconciliation rate hike

After a summer of sky-high electric bills, ComEd is offering Chicago customers some relief next year with $803 million in state-mandated nuclear energy credits and a new low-income discount program.

More top business stories:

• Federal Reserve likely to lower borrowing costs this week, but follow-up rate cuts face longer odds
• Takeover bid of parent company means limbo for CNN and some fellow cable networks

QB Fernando Mendoza is the 2025 Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner — Indiana’s 1st winner in 24 years

The Tribune presents the Silver Football in partnership with the Union League Club of Chicago to the Big Ten’s best player.

More top sports stories:

• Chicago Tribune Silver Football: What to know about the Big Ten’s highest honor
• Chicago basketball report: Bulls offense is at a standstill — and this Notre Dame guard is averaging 25.9 ppg
• Chicago Cubs have said all the right things about Matt Shaw — but could Alex Bregman still be an option?

Japanese ramen chain Kyuramen opens Naperville location

Kyuramen, a fast-growing Japanese ramen brand with more than 120 locations in Japan and the U.S., opened a location yesterday in Naperville.

More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:

• Review: In ‘Marjorie Prime’ on Broadway, the disquieting robot future is here
• Today in History: ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ airs

ICE arrests of Afghans are on the rise in the wake of National Guard attack, immigration lawyers say

Coming just days after the shooting of two National Guard troops by an Afghan national suspect, federal authorities have carried out increased arrests of Afghans in the U.S., immigration lawyers say as Afghans both in and outside the country have come under intense scrutiny by immigration officials.

More top stories from around the world:

• Justice Department can unseal Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case records, judge says
• Judge orders the release of an immigrant with ties to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt