Hey, it’s Thursday! And I love Chicago’s public access TV so much that I’ve been thinking of starting my own show. Anyway, here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. Trump publicly urges China to investigate Bidens

President Donald Trump made that extraordinary plea today as the House ramped up its impeachment inquiry, which was sparked by a similar, yet private, request during a conversation between Trump and Ukraine’s leader.

Trump has asked foreign leaders to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, though the president has not shared any evidence of wrongdoing. [NPR]

As Trump made his plea to China, House leaders were interviewing Kurt Volker, who resigned last week as the Trump administration’s special envoy to Ukraine. Volker told House investigators he warned Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, that he was receiving unsubstantiated information about the Bidens. [Washington Post]

Meanwhile, Trump repeatedly used Vice President Mike Pence to exert pressure on Ukraine. [Washington Post]

And questions are being raised over the White House’s “rough transcript” of Trump’s Ukraine’s call. [Washington Post]

2. If teachers strike, what happens to the kids?

Chicago teachers, school support staff and Chicago Park District employees will go on strike Oct. 17 if they can’t reach contract deals by then.

So where does that leave parents of public school children if a strike happens? Chicago Public Schools says it will use non-union staff to keep schools open during a strike. The YMCA of Metro Chicago and the city’s public libraries will also have programs for students. [Chicago Tribune]

Meanwhile, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said CPS won’t make up any missed days because of a strike, meaning teachers won’t get paid for missed days. [WBEZ]

3. Pritzker weighs in on recent federal raids of state senator’s offices

Gov. JB Pritzker said he wants powerful state Sen. Martin Sandoval to give up his chairmanship of the influential Senate Transportation Committee. And if he refuses, Pritzker called on Senate President John Cullerton to strip Sandoval of the position.

As WBEZ’s Tony Arnold reports, “It’s an unusual call for Pritzker, who has tried to cultivate a positive working relationship with the legislature.” [WBEZ]

Federal agents raided Sandoval’s home and legislative offices last week. WBEZ filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Senate after Cullerton’s office gave reporters heavily blacked-out documents from the FBI investigation that are commonly released to the media upon request. [WBEZ]

4. U.K. stares down deadline to leave European Union

And European officials today poured cold water on the latest divorce proposal from U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a move that increases the chances that — like some divorces — this one could be messy.

The U.K. has an Oct. 31 deadline to leave the E.U. The British Parliament passed a law requiring Johnson to ask for an extension if no deal can be reached, but Joshnson insists the U.K. will exit with or without an agreement.

British negotiators are expected to visit Brussels tomorrow. [Washington Post]

5. Property tax hike didn’t solve Chicago’s pension problems

Mayor Rahm Emanuel pushed a record property tax hike in 2015 to help shore up the city’s woefully underfunded pensions. Back then, the retirement funds for city workers was short about $23 billion. Now, they’re about $30 billion in the red, according to an analysis from the Chicago Tribune.

What happened? The Trib reports there are three main reasons. The people who run the pension funds changed their economic outlook by reducing how much money they expected to generate from investments. They also increased how long they expect retirees will live and collect benefits.

Additionally, investments made by the pension funds were not meeting their expected rate of return. And Emanuel put off the city’s biggest increases in pension contributions until after he left office. [Chicago Tribune]

Here’s what else is happening

• Hong Kong might ban face masks like the ones worn by pro-democracy protesters. [NPR]

• Dr. Benjamin Emanuel, father to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, died at age 92. [Chicago Sun-Times]

• You can study cannabis at this Chicago-area community college. [WBEZ]

• If you’re looking for something to listen to, check out City on Fire, a docudrama produced by WBEZ and the Make-Believe Association that’s about Chicago’s 1919 race riot. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

The Museum of Science and Industry is getting a new name, joining other Chicago institutions that have been renamed to something that totally stuck with the public, like Guaranteed Rate Field, the Willis Tower and, uh, 875 N. Michigan Avenue.

The Museum of Science and Industry is changing its name after receiving a $125 million donation from billionaire Ken Griffin. The museum will become the Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, here’s a list of places that Chicagoans refuse to call by their actual names, not like that will be the case for the Kenny G Museum of Science and Industry. [Chicago magazine]

Tell me something good …

It’s October, and that means it’s time to start thinking about Halloween costumes. What are you thinking of dressing up as this year?

Mike writes:

“One year I dressed up as ‘The Wrong Season.’

All white suite with no leather shoes (Yom Kipper),

A red, pointy, fur-lined hat (Christmas),

A flower and egg-filled basket (Easter),

A hand-held American flag (4th of July),

A rainbow-lapel pin (Pride Day),

And sported a turkey baster (Thanksgiving).

I wanted to bring punchkies but couldn’t find any (Punchkie Day - it’s a Polish thing).”

What’s your Halloween costume this year? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet me at @whuntah.

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