Good afternoon, and Happy Halloween! It’s my favorite day of the year, and to set the spooky mood, I’ll be listening to this chat about paranormal activity in suburban Chicago. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments on whether race can play a role in college admissions

College admissions practices at Harvard and the University of North Carolina were debated in front of the U.S. Supreme Court today after a group challenged race-conscious admissions programs.

As my colleague Nereida Moreno reports, “The group Students for Fair Admissions is asking the court to overrule 40 years of precedent that allows both public and private universities to consider race as one of many factors when reviewing applicants. The group says it’s made up of thousands of rejected applicants, prospective students and parents.”

Lower courts have rejected the group’s claims that Harvard discriminates against Asian Americans and UNC against Asian American and white potential students. The schools have said they want a demographically diverse student body and may consider race as they do home states, national origin and special achievements.

The Supreme Court isn’t expected to make a decision until June.

Locally, the decision would have the biggest impact on Northwestern and the University of Chicago, both of which are highly selective and have spent big money diversifying incoming student bodies in recent years. [WBEZ]

2. Legal abortions fell about 6% since Roe v. Wade ended, according to new data

Legal abortions are down by 10,000 — about 6% — in the first two months since June 24, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, The New York Times reports.

Experts estimate that nearly zero legal abortions were performed in the 13 states that banned or severely restricted abortions. In the nine states that added major restrictions, legal abortions fell by one-third.

As The New York Times reports: “In states where abortion remained legal, the number of abortions increased by roughly 12,000, or 11 percent. That suggests that around half of women who were unable to get abortions in states with bans traveled to another state to get one.”

3. Right-wing ‘zombie’ papers attack Illinois Democrats ahead of elections

For weeks, Illinois residents have been receiving free newspapers with strong partisan messages that aren’t formally disclosed.

These publications, which often have a hard right point of view, look like local real newspapers and pop up during election seasons.

Bernard Schoenberg, a retired journalist who covered Illinois issues for decades, told NPR he first noticed the fake newspapers several election cycles ago and they have since spread throughout the state.

A political action committee run by conservative radio host Dan Proft helps underwrite the papers, which often have splashy headlines slamming Democrats. As NPR reports, “nowhere in the publications themselves is there any disclosure of the papers’ pro-Republican agenda, its source of funding, or even its point of view — except, of course, in the relentless punching of hot-button issues for the right, including trans rights, COVID restrictions and taxes.” [NPR]

4. The trial of former President Donald Trump’s company started today

Donald Trump himself isn’t on trial, just his family business.

As The New York Times reports, the business is accused of helping its executives avoid taxes by giving them “lavish off-the-books perks.”

Prosecutors claim the scheme has been going on since at least 2005. In one instance, prosecutors say chief financial officer Allen H. Weisselberg received rent on an Upper West Side apartment, leases for Mercedes-Benzes and private school tuition for his grandchildren. Weisselberg faces five months in jail.

The Trump Organization faces up to $1.7 million in fines if found guilty. [New York Times]

5. ‘Goosebumps’ is turning 30 — the scariest part is how old that makes you

Author R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series turns 30 this year, continuing to entertain generations of young horror fans with standalone stories of children in spooky situations, like a family moving into an creepy old house.

But Stine says his books, and the TV shows and movies they’ve spawned — rely on cheap tricks and teases.

“I don’t really want to terrify kids. It’s not what I really want. If I think a scene is getting too scary, too intense, I throw in something funny,” Stine told NPR. [NPR]

Here’s what else is happening

• Former President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to block the release of his tax records to a House panel. [New York Times]

• The Hideout will close through the end of the year after allegations of a toxic workplace. [Block Club Chicago]

• Federal charges have been filed in the attack on Paul Pelosi. [AP]

• Evanston’s Double Clutch Brewing was named Small Brewery of the Year. [Chicago Tribune]

Oh, and one more thing …

Still got that mail-in ballot on the coffee table that hasn’t been filled out? We’re here to help: Every day this week, we’ll bring you pointers to WBEZ’s coverage of the issues and candidates animating this year’s midterm elections, culminating on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the polls.

Today, my colleagues at WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times put together a roundup of some of the more consequential races up for grabs on Nov. 8. It’s pretty breezy and takes, like, five minutes to read. [WBEZ]

There’s also this handy tool allowing voters in Cook County and nearby areas to see what will be on their ballot. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Tell me something good …

Now that Halloween is almost over, it’s time to plan for Thanksgiving. I don’t feel like cooking this year, so which local restaurant should I splurge on to celebrate? Feel free to reply to this email, and your answer might be included in this week’s newsletter.