Hey there! Count me among the people counting down to the release of Hocus Pocus 2. But I’m even more excited about Billy Eichner’s Bros. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Even the reliably blue state of Illinois is not spared in the latest wave of election misinformation

No Republican candidate for president has won Illinois since 1988, but that fact has not deterred conspiracy theorists who believe former President Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud in the 2020 election.

These election deniers have threatened legal action against Illinois officials and local authorities who run the voting process, report WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos and Dave McKinney.

Among them is Michelle Turney, a former Chicago police officer who filed to run for Illinois secretary of state as a Republican candidate but got knocked off the ballot after her nominating petitions were challenged.

“I AM CONSIDERING SUING YOU FOR YOUR AND YOUR ORGANIZATION’S INVOLVMENT [sic] IN THE FRAUDELENT [sic] ELECTIONS THAT WILL SOON BE PROVEN TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE 2017,” she wrote to Chicago election officials this month.

A spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections said the accusations are “extremely frustrating” because they are “based on no evidence whatsoever.”

Both nationally and in Illinois, there has been no credible evidence of widespread voter fraud that would have changed the outcome of the 2020 election. [WBEZ]

2. The Chicago Teachers Union endorsed a mayoral candidate who hasn’t jumped into the race yet

The governing body for the Chicago Teachers Union voted to endorse Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson for mayor — even though he has not declared his candidacy yet, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

The unusual timing of the endorsement comes as U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García says he is considering jumping into the crowded race to unseat Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

García recently told the Chicago Sun-Times he expects to make a decision by mid-October. The CTU supported García in his 2015 bid for mayor, making its early endorsement of Johnson all the more eyebrow raising.

A poll released this month by Nuestro PAC, a national group focusing on Latino voters that is urging García to run, found the congressman and Lightfoot tied as standouts in the race. [Chicago Sun-Times]

3. Chicago Public Schools is no longer the nation’s third largest school district

For the 11th year in a row, student enrollment declined at Chicago Public Schools.

An official count released this week shows the school district lost about 9,000 students this academic year, with 322,106 attending the city’s public schools.

That means Miami-Dade County Public Schools — with 324,961 students this academic year — has taken CPS’ title as the third largest school district in the nation.

“The stunning contraction in size raises important questions about the future of the public school system and the city as a whole,” Chalkbeat Chicago reports. [Chalkbeat Chicago]

4. Hurricane Ian knocks out power for millions of people in Florida

Nearly 3 million homes and businesses were without electricity after Hurricane Ian destroyed a cross section of Florida, reports the Associated Press.

The hurricane today continued to dump rain on large parts of the state as rescue crews waded through flooded streets to help people trapped.

“We’ve never seen storm surge of this magnitude,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters. “The amount of water that’s been rising, and will likely continue to rise today even as the storm is passing, is basically a 500-year flooding event.”

Authorities so far have confirmed one death — a 72-year-old man who fell into a canal while draining his pool.

Ian is expected to move north toward South Carolina, where a warning has been issued for the state’s coast. [AP]

5. OK, there is some drama with Madison’s crystal flute

I can’t stop reading about how superstar Lizzo played a crystal flute that once belonged to former President James Madison.

And Madison apparently didn’t thank the French flute maker when he received the instrument in 1813.

“Mr. President, I took the liberty of sending to you about three years ago, a crystal flute of my invention,” wrote flute maker Claude Laurent, according to The Washington Post. “Please allow me to express to you the desire that I would have to learn if it has reached you and if this feeble homage of my industry has been agreeable to you.”

Sick diss, bro.

Anyway, here’s another interesting factoid: The flute is stored at the Library of Congress, which has the largest collection of flutes in the world at nearly 2,000. [WaPo]

Here’s what else is happening

• Mayor Lightfoot’s allies are urging her to scrap plans for a $42.7 million property tax increase. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Efforts are building to shut down Chicago’s last big scrap-metal shredder. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• McDonald’s will offer adult happy meals in October. [NPR]
• I had no idea pickleball was so popular that LeBron James is buying a professional team. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

Oh cool, I didn’t know this: “After Washington and New York, Michigan produces the highest volume of apples, so it makes sense that ours is the next region to lean into America’s hard cider boom,” reports Kerry Cardoza for WBEZ.

Cardoza takes a look at seven Midwest cideries that make up a “great cider road trip.”

“The popularity of regional and small-craft producers have helped drive growth,” Cardoza writes. “Some of the most interesting brands are made right here in the Great Lakes region — from Virtue Cider, founded by Greg Hall, a longtime Goose Island brewmaster, to the woman-led team behind Eris, which has connected cider making to Chicago’s architectural history by opening a mill in a former Masonic temple in Old Irving Park.” [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

I’m not sure what I’m going to be this year for Halloween, so what are you dressing up as?

Larry Goldman writes:

“I am going to a Saturday Night Live-themed Halloween party this year and am debating between one of the Wild and Crazy Guys or Hans/Franz.”

And Susan Woldenberg writes:

“My husband and I were Vegetarian. The party was a pot luck given by and for our macrobiotic-eating friends. Shortly after all the guests arrived … everybody started singing happy birthday to ME! It was truly a surprise birthday party. Why? Because I was born in September … and not Oct. 31. I did not recognize family and friends. Everybody was dressed in costumes including my vegetarian friends.

“My husband sure knew how to plan a unique Halloween Party!”

Feel free to email or tweet me, and your response might be shared in the newsletter this week.