Major national figures are in town as local midterm races go down to the wire. Mayor Lightfoot is facing a budget revolt. The Bears pull off huge trades and hedge for the future while the White Sox name a new manager.

Reports of flu are already high in 17 states, and the hospitalization rate hasn’t been this high this early since the 2009 swine flu pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, there have been an estimated 730 flu deaths, including at least two children.

Hot cocoa runs, Black, LGBTQ+ and Native American film festivals and more fun surprises usher in the weekend. Here are 5 things to do in and around Chicago.

The Chicago Police Department, Cook County State's Attorney's Office and Chicago Board of Elections are coordinating efforts to ensure the safety of voters and poll workers.

Friday’s report from the government showed that hiring was brisk across industries last month, though the overall gain declined from 315,000 in September. The unemployment rate rose from a five-decade low of 3.5% to a still-healthy 3.7%.

A drawing will be held Saturday night for the Powerball prize, which hasn’t been won in more than three months. That string of 39 consecutive drawings without a winner is a reflection of the tough odds of winning a jackpot, at 1 in 292.2 million.

President Biden will head to Chicago to participate in a political reception. He is heading to the Democratic stronghold amid signs that some House members representing suburban Chicago districts may be facing more competitive than expected reelection battles.

Marc Schlossman spent a decade photographing specimens of extinct and endangered species housed at the Field Museum. The result is a new book, “Extinction,” which Schlossman calls an exercise in hope. 

A strong system is moving into the area late Friday, bringing with it waves of showers on Saturday morning and wind gusts that could top 50 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

A live report from the East Garfield Park community, recovering from a mass shooting on Halloween. Top priorities in the city budget. And the impact of low Mississippi River water levels. 

Fourteen people, ten of whom from the same family, were shot in East Garfield Park on Oct. 31. The victims had been holding a vigil for a relative who’d recently passed away when a car drove by and opened fire. We visit the community dealing with the aftermath. 

The twice-yearly clock switch might come to an end for good if Congress passes the Sunshine Protection Act, making daylight saving time permanent in 2023. Supporters of the bill argue it will reduce crime, encourage kids to play outside and lower the risk of heart attacks and car accidents. However, some health experts believe a shift would misalign our bodies’ circadian rhythm. 

Called “The First Homosexuals,” the show is about a time when the art world released a flood of new representations of same-sex desire.

About 60% of the Midwest and northern Great Plain states are in a drought. Nearly the entire stretch of the Mississippi River — from Minnesota to the river’s mouth in Louisiana — has experienced below average rainfall over the past two months.

The 16-page report was the first action of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability after it finally launched at the end of August, more than eight months behind schedule. A final vote by the Chicago City Council on Lightfoot’s $16.4 billion plan is scheduled for Monday.