Fall’s first freeze and first snow

Good morning, Chicago.

Today could bring a double whammy to Chicagoland — fall’s first freezing temperature and first snowfall.

If both are observed, then it would be just the 10th time in local weather history the two milestones were achieved on the same calendar day, says Jake Petr, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service’s Chicago office.

Here’s a look back at when our area typically experiences its first freeze and first snowfall of fall and what to expect the rest of this season.

And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.

Subscribe to more newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Today’s eNewspaper edition

Thousands attended the Halloween display over the weekend, with the McCabes reporting that over 2,300 people came through on Friday and Saturday.

A key city panel pressed pause on a vote to expand Chicago’s paid leave policies beyond other big cities such as New York and Los Angeles. The delay signaled substantive disagreement over the ordinance. It presents a test of whether Mayor Brandon Johnson, with the help of progressive allies, can live up to the reputation he’s tried to burnish as the city’s unifier.

The 2023 Illinois Report Card released Monday by the Illinois State Board of Education showed a continuation of growth post-pandemic with increased proficiency rates, though still below pre-pandemic levels.

In addition to substantial pay raises and other benefits for workers, the Ford deal also includes a commitment to invest $400 million in the Chicago Assembly Plant itself as part of $8.1 billion to be spent across all of its facilities by the end of the new four-year agreement.

Burke’s attorneys had argued vehemently to exclude statements the powerful ex-alderman made on the recordings about the Jewish heritage of the developer of the Old Post Office, whom Burke was allegedly pushing to hire his private law firm for property tax work.

Afternoon Briefing

Weekdays

Chicago Tribune editors’ top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday for this year’s Metra holiday trains, where Metra riders can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as other holiday characters.

Coach Matt Eberflus said quarterback Justin Fields will miss a third straight game Sunday as he continues his recover from a dislocated right thumb. Eberflus classified Fields as “week to week” with the injury he suffered Oct. 15 against the Minnesota Vikings.

Purdue, unranked in the preseason a year ago, enters this season No. 3, followed by No. 4 Michigan State. The Big Ten’s only other ranked team is No. 25 Illinois. The Big Ten hasn’t had so few teams in the preseason Top 25 since 2018-19.

Here’s a team-by-team preview of the 2023-24 season.

Playwright and composer Beth Hyland’s “Seagulls” is Chekhov set on a modern college campus in Ohio, where the older characters are banished offstage and it’s all about the angsty young artists trying to find their way in the world. Hyland’s indie rock adaptation of the 1896 Russian play reaches for the emotional depth and artistic sensibility of “Rent” or “Once,” and although the writing is not on par with these celebrated musicals, it is sprinkled with sharply insightful lines and lyrics.

In director Rebecca Willingham’s production at Oak Park Festival Theatre, the youthful cast members — several of whom are making their Chicago theater debuts — give some winning performances despite the wobbly character development in the script.

Rick Kogan knew Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert (and worked and socialized with both), as well as many of the other people who played parts both prominent and minor in the lives of this remarkable pair, and who pepper the 352 pages of the book “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever.”