Good afternoon! It’s Tuesday, and I’m really hoping the new Dune movie out this Friday lives up to the hype. And I’m really hoping it finally inspires a drag queen to perform a Dune-themed number to “Spice Up Your Life” by the Spice Girls. Here’s what you need to know today.

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1. The FDA is expected to allow a “mix-and-match” approach to COVID-19 booster shots

The Food and Drug Administration may announce this week that Americans can get a booster shot that is different from their initial dose, reports The New York Times.

The federal agency could make the announcement as soon as tomorrow, when it is widely expected to authorize booster shots from Johnson & Johnson and Moderna. The FDA has already authorized booster doses for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Allowing people to use a “mix-and-match” approach could allow greater availability and flexibility for people seeking boosters. And the news comes under a sense of urgency: winter is quickly approaching, and health experts say another surge remains possible. [NYT]

Meanwhile in Chicago, a little over 68% of eligible residents were fully vaccinated as of Oct. 17, according to city data. [COVID Dashboard]

If COVID-19 cases drop, Illinois’ mask mandate could be lifted “as we approach the holidays,” Gov. JB Pritzker said today. [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. Rahm Emanuel says Laquan McDonald’s family supports his ambassador nomination, but …

McDonald’s great uncle told The Washington Post that Emanuel does not have the support of “everyone” in the family at the moment.

“I talked with my family and we decided to just wait and see,” the great uncle, Rev. Marvin Hunter, told the newspaper. “I don’t want to get in the heat of a lot of it right now … I just want to stay out of it and let the dust settle.”

Progressive activists and lawmakers say the former Chicago mayor should not serve as the U.S. ambassador to Japan because of his handling of the police killing of McDonald. Protests are underway in an effort to derail Emanuel’s nomination as a Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, which is the seven-year anniversary of McDonald’s death.

Emanuel has told senators he has the support of McDonald’s family and several Black leaders, including nine members of the City Council’s Black Caucus, the Post reports. [WaPo]

3. The Lightfoot administration is incompetent and Chicago’s governement is “broken,” says recently retired inspector general

Joe Ferguson, who served as City Hall’s top watchdog for 12 years until last Friday, did not hold back in an interview with Crain’s Chicago Business, saying “the competencies simply aren’t there” in Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration.

Ferguson’s long tenure as inspector general largely received high marks from advocates of better government. Under his leadership, the inspector general’s office launched probes into how the city handled the police killing of Laquan McDonald, the city’s response to George Floyd protests and bribery in the city’s red-light camera program.

Ferguson said despite all of his work, he believes the city remains on the wrong track.

“We don’t have checks and balances in Chicago. We don’t,” Ferguson told Crain’s Chicago Business. Instead, “We have an extraordinary amount of power in one individual.” Ferguson also says: “We need a reset on our government. Our government is broken, in some ways.” [Crain’s]

4. R. Kelly, convicted in New York, to appear before a federal judge in Chicago

For the first time since being convicted of sex crimes and racketeering in a Brooklyn courthouse, singer R. Kelly is scheduled tomorrow to attend a hearing in his pending Chicago federal case, albeit electronically, reports WBEZ’s Patrick Smith.

The hearing could answer many questions hanging over the criminal case, including who exactly will be on Kelly’s defense team, whether the two sides have discussed a possible plea deal and if the government wants to continue with its case considering Kelly’s conviction in New York could mean he’ll spend the rest of his life in prison.

“When there are defendants who are facing criminal cases in multiple jurisdictions, there is usually an appetite from the defense for what’s called a global resolution. In other words, some sort of negotiated deal that ensures that all of their legal problems go away at once,” said former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti. [WBEZ]

5. Fans celebrate the Chicago Sky’s first WNBA title at parade and rally

The city today hosted a parade and rally for the Chicago Sky after its historic WNBA championship on Sunday. And honestly, the timing of this amazing win couldn’t be better for a city that feels like it’s jumping from one fiasco to another.

“For fans that jumped on the bandwagon last minute, that’s alright, we invite you,” Major Lori Lightfoot joked. “Just make sure to sign up for season tickets next season!” [WBEZ]

Hundreds of fans lined up to see the team as they made their way down Michigan Avenue to Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

As the Chicago Sun-Times reports: “Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot looked out at fans waving, took a deep breath and said, ‘I truly can’t believe this.’ ” [Sun-Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• A House select committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection is expected to vote on recommending criminal charges against Trump ally Steve Bannon. [AP]
• Haitian kidnappers want $17 million to free American and Canadian missionaries. [NPR]
• Complaints about spam text messages jumped 146% last year, drawing more attention from the Federal Communications Commission. [NPR]
• Toys are in short supply, and that could make the upcoming holiday season more hectic. [AP]

Oh, and one more thing …

Actually, here are a couple of more things.

Ferrara Candy, the Chicago-based maker of Candy Corn, suffered a ransomware attack just before Halloween. [The Takeout]

We briefly get to see Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball in the teaser for Being The Ricardos. [Buzzfeed]

An Israeli scuba diver found an ancient sword that experts say dates back to the Crusaders. [AP]

Netflix released a teaser for the upcoming live-action Cowboy Bebop adaptation. [The Verge]

Tell me something good …

What’s the best way to brighten up on a gray Chicago day?

Cassie writes:

“Baking something delicious (maybe Claire Saffitz’s almond butter pumpkin bread) before going on a lunchtime walk. Getting out in the cool air and moving briskly really reinvigorates me and gets me ready to finish my day strong!”

Feel free to email me at therundown@wbez.org or tweet me at @whuntah, and your responses might be shared here this week.

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