Hey, it’s Friday! I saw a businessman on the train wearing a huge trench coat that reminded me of Dog the Bounty Hunter, and I’m kinda surprised CBS hasn’t made a show about a businessman who moonlights as a bounty hunter. Anyway, here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. Chicago teachers earn more money than counterparts in other school districts

As the city stares down a teachers strike slated for Oct. 17, a new analysis from the Chicago Tribune found that the starting salary of a Chicago Public Schools teacher is higher than other large school districts when adjusted for the cost of living.

The starting salary in Chicago is $49,775 with the cost of living adjustment. In New York City, public school teachers start off at $44,626, and Los Angeles teachers get $42,794, according to the Trib’s analysis.

But as the Trib points out, CPS teachers are required to live in the city, where the cost of living can be more expensive than nearby suburbs. That residency rule doesn’t exist in most school districts. [Chicago Tribune]

Meanwhile, here’s a look at how some parents and community groups feel about the possibility of a strike. [WBEZ]

And here’s a look at where parents can send their kids if a strike happens next week. [Chicago Tribune]

2. Former Ukraine ambassador testifies despite State Department’s objections

Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, told House leaders today that the State Department was under pressure by President Donald Trump to remove her. Yovanovitch said a top State Department official shared that information with her and said she had “done nothing wrong.”

Yovanovitch also said she was removed as ambassador “based, as far as I can tell, on unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives.” [New York Times]

Meanwhile, some Democrats are questioning whether the impeachment inquiry should be expanded beyond Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. [Washington Post]

And a federal appeals court today ruled that Trump must turn over his financial records to the House. [AP]

3. More details emerge about FBI investigation into powerful state lawmaker

After facing a lawsuit from WBEZ, the Illinois Senate today released an unredacted version of a search warrant regarding the federal raid on Illinois state Sen. Martin Sandoval’s statehouse office.

The blockbuster disclosure revealing one of the most sprawling federal investigations in a generation touches on some of the biggest players in Springfield.

The search warrant shows federal agents sought info about Commonwealth Edison, executives of a red-light camera company, a suburban road-paving magnate and one of the largest operators of state-licensed video gambling machines in Illinois.

Shortly after the release of today’s search warrant, Sandoval resigned as chairman of the Illinois Senate’s powerful Transportation Committee. [WBEZ]

4. U.N. says 100,000 flee as Turkey continues assault on Kurds

And at least 11 civilians, including a Syrian baby, have died as Turkish forces continue their offensive campaign against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces, reports the BBC. At least 29 Kurdish fighters have been killed, and Turkey confirmed the first death of one of their soldiers. [BBC]

Here’s an explainer on the Kurds, why they’re at the forefront in the battle against ISIS and why Turkey views them as a threat. [BBC]

As Turkey presses forward against Kurdish militias in northern Syria, there are fears that ISIS will carry out a prison break of followers detained in the area. [PBS]

5. Who attacked an Iranian oil tanker?

Two missiles reportedly hit a tanker traveling near the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. Iranian state-run media reported the missiles caused an explosion of two storage tanks and caused an oil spill, which is now under control.

Iranian media did not say who was responsible for the attack, and Saudi Arabia has not commented so far.

The incident comes after a Saudi oil facility was attacked by missiles and drones last month. Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility, but the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have blamed Iran. [NPR]

Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced today it will deploy an additional 1,800 troops to Saudi Arabia as tensions flare in the Middle East. The move appears to be at odds with President Trump’s rationale for withdrawing U.S. troops from northern Syria before Turkey launched an assault on Kurdish forces. [Washington Post]

Here’s what else is happening

• President Trump announced the U.S. and China have reached a partial agreement that could end the ongoing trade war. [Bloomberg]

• Indicted Chicago Ald. Ed Burke spent nearly $400,000 from a campaign fund for his legal defense. [Chicago Sun-Times]

• A group of black Chicago aldermen said Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson has lost the community’s trust. [Chicago Sun-Times]

• If you’re looking for something to listen to this weekend, there’s a new episode of WBEZ’s true-crime podcast, Motive, which is hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Frank Main of the Chicago Sun-Times. [Apple]

Oh, and one more thing …

New Year’s Day might be a buzzkill if you’re looking to get legally high in Illinois. That’s because dispensaries have initially faced shortages in almost every state that legalized recreational marijuana.

Pretty much everyone who knows anything about marijuana expects to see a huge demand for pot when it becomes legal in Illinois on Jan. 1. [Chicago Tribune]

Tell me something good …

Horror movies are some of the most profitable films. So what’s your favorite scary movie or TV show?

Pat Davis writes:

“John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness. Started watching it on VHS (it was the 1980s). Stopped at a scary part and went to the corner store to get snacks. Freaked out when the total came to $6.66. The swirling green devil mass scared the bejesus out of me.”

And Amanda Taves writes:

“Stanley Kubrick’s film The Shining! It isn’t his ghosts that frighten me (except for maybe the bathtub lady — she is terrifying). What gets me are the scenes that perpetually suggest something is lurking around the corner. The monsters we do see embody a human form, are fragmented, and their interaction is short-lived, leaving so much up to the viewer’s imagination. I think people are best at frightening themselves, and this movie definitely allows space for that.”

Thanks for all the responses to this week’s question! They really got me into the Halloween spirit.

Thanks for reading and have a nice night! I’ll see you on Monday. And if you like what you just read, you can subscribe to the newsletter here and have it delivered to your inbox.