Good afternoon, it’s Tuesday! I have to go to the gym today and I’m trying to figure out how I can do the exercises without really doing them. Here’s what you need to know. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. States can pass their own net neutrality laws

A federal appeals court today ruled that the Federal Communications Commission overstepped its authority and cannot prevent states from passing their own net neutrality laws.

The FCC in 2017 ordered a rollback of the Obama-era decision that prevented internet providers from blocking or slowing down access to web content or offering “paid fast lanes.” That 2017 rollback also barred states from writing their own net neutrality laws.

Today’s ruling gives both proponents and critics of net neutrality something of a win, as the court also upheld most of the FCC’s rollback. California has already passed its own protections to net neutrality. [Reuters]

A bill protecting net neutrality in Illinois wasn’t approved by state lawmakers before they left Springfield this summer. [Illinois General Assembly]

2. Pompeo pushes back against impeachment inquiry

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused House leaders of trying to “intimidate” and “bully” State Department employees and cast doubt that they will appear for depositions scheduled to begin tomorrow.

House leaders want to question five current and former State Department officials as part of their Ukraine investigation. Pompeo said the witnesses were not given enough time to prepare for the depositions. But House leaders accused Pompeo of “intimidating Department witnesses in order to protect himself and the President.”

Pompeo’s move comes as reports indicate he was among the administration officials who listened in on the July 25 call between President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s leader.

It remains unclear if Pompeo’s objections will slow down the impeachment inquiry. [NPR]

Meanwhile, Trump suggested he is “entitled to interview” the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment inquiry. [New York Times]

Today’s episode of The Daily, which airs on WBEZ at 7:30 p.m., examines previous impeachment efforts and what lessons they may offer about the current one. [WBEZ]

3. Special prosecutor in Jussie Smollett case contributed to Kim Foxx’s campaign

Dan Webb, the special prosecutor investigating Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s handling of the Jussie Smollett case, donated $1,000 to Foxx’s campaign during a 2016 fundraiser he co-hosted at his law office, Webb admitted in a two-page declaration filed in Cook County criminal court.

Webb said he had “no recollection” of the political contribution or the fundraiser when a judge appointed him to probe the Smollett case.

The revelation could complicate Webb’s investigation into whether Foxx’s office gave Smollett special treatment when it dropped the charges against the actor, who was accused of faking his own hate crime earlier this year. [WBEZ]

4. Pro-democracy protester shot by Hong Kong officer

The shooting marks a dark turn in the monthslong unrest in the semiautonomous region in China.

News reports say the protester, a high school student, was shot in the chest and is in critical condition. A video circulating online shows the protester swinging what looks like a metal rod at the officer before a shot is fired.

The shooting comes as the Chinese Communist Party celebrates its 70th anniversary of authoritarian rule. While Beijing held military parades to mark the occasion, Hong Kong saw protesters take to the streets chanting “power to the people.” [NPR]

5. Chicago gun violence at a four-year low

Shootings and murders between Jan. 1 and the end of September were at their lowest point since 2015, according to new figures released by the Chicago Police Department today. Compared to last year, there has been an 11% drop in shootings and a 10% decrease in murders.

Police also said crimes like robberies and vehicle thefts are at a 20-year low through the end of last month. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• A former Dallas cop was found guilty of murdering a neighbor. [NPR]

• The Department of Homeland Security is beginning to consider white supremacist terrorism as a security threat. [New York Times]

• The new head of Chicago’s planning department held a similar job in Detroit, so a WBEZ reporter went to the Motor City to ask about his tenure. [WBEZ]

• A member of Cheap Trick backs a proposed casino in Rockford. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Oh, and one more thing …

The upcoming Joker movie, which stars Joaquin Phoenix as the perennial Batman villain, is sparking concerns over mass shootings.

Joker, which comes out on Friday and took home the top prize at the Venice International Film Festival, has caused the U.S. Army to issue a warning that the movie might encourage shootings. [Houston Chronicle]

The concerns are so strong that New York and Los Angeles will deploy additional cops to movie theaters during the Joker’s opening weekend, though there have been no credible threats associated with the movie. [Hollywood Reporter]

A group of families who lost loved ones in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting have expressed concerns over the movie and have asked Warner Bros. to donate money to anti-violence groups. [CNN]

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?

Gene Tenner writes:

“I will dress up as a hot dog and my lady-friend will dress up as a glass of beer with a handle. Together, we will be Frank ’n Stein.”

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.