Afternoon Briefing: FBI mole and former Ald. Daniel Solis spotted at courthouse

Good afternoon, Chicago.

Alleged Highland Park parade shooter Robert Crimo III dismissed his attorneys Monday and said he planned to represent himself at trial, which is now scheduled for February.

In a surprise move at a Monday case management conference, Crimo’s attorneys from the Lake County public defender’s office told Judge Victoria Rossetti that the defendant wished to act as his own attorney.

Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/breaking and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.

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FBI mole and former Ald. Daniel Solis spotted at federal courthouse as prosecutors prepare to rest their case in the ex-Ald. Ed Burke corruption trial

Prosecutors are expected to rest their case Monday in the corruption trial of former Ald. Edward Burke, potentially setting the stage for the highly anticipated testimony of Burke’s former City Council colleague, Daniel Solis. Read more here.

More top news stories:

• Investigation underway into ‘heavy’ fire at historic Gary Emerson High School, site of 1927 student boycott

• Police searching for Carpentersville woman last seen headed to a holiday party in Vernon Hills a week ago

Oak Brook mansion once owned by baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas is getting a face-lift under new owner

After White Sox great Frank Thomas sold the Oak Brook mansion in 2003, it had a succession of owners. Read more here.

More top business stories:

• A look at how gas prices in Illinois compare with other states

• Condo Adviser: Proper formalities must be followed if board levies additional assessment

Should Alex Caruso earn NBA All-Star consideration? His Bulls teammates say yes. ‘He’s everything.’

As the NBA prepares to open All-Star voting next week, the Chicago Bulls are already starting an early campaign for one of their teammates: Alex Caruso. Read more here.

More top sports stories:

• Tony Granato taking leave of absence from Blackhawks work on NBC Sports Chicago after non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis

• Column: White Sox stasis continues while Cubs move on from another failed pursuit of Shohei Ohtani

‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ is coming to Chicago next, a boost for theatergoing in the Loop

Some eight years after its London bow, the “Harry Potter” stage play is coming to Chicago next September, and sticking around. Read more here.

More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:

• Review: Milwaukee Ballet’s new ‘Nutcracker’ leans old-school — and it’s utterly spectacular

• ‘Barbie’ tops Golden Globe Awards nominations with nine, closely trailed by ‘Oppenheimer’ with eight

Special counsel Jack Smith asks Supreme Court to rule quickly on whether Trump can be prosecuted

Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday asked the Supreme Court to take up and rule quickly on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results. Read more here.

More top stories from around the world:

• Biden goes into 2024 with the economy getting stronger, but voters feel horrible about it

• Israel battles fighters in Gaza’s main cities, with civilians trapped in the battle