* Here you go…

* Sun-Times |Illinois kickstarts funding to state prison libraries with $420K in grants: Each of the state’s 28 prisons will receive $15,000 for books, magazines and other supplies, the first time they’ve received public funding of any kind in six years.

* Jim Nowlan | Here’s how to create a future for moderate Republicans in Illinois: So, how and where can moderate Republicans (let’s call us the Mod Squad, for “moderate” or “modern”) make our mark and become significant? In the burbs. In the six counties that surround Chicago and Cook County, a language other than English is spoken in one-third of the homes, according to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. The burbs are no longer your white-bread, vanilla, GOP enclaves. Yet, there are lots of highly educated, socially moderate folks in the suburbs, of all hues.

* WCIA | Pritzker, other state leaders, recognize late Sen. Scott Bennett in Danville: “In a world of public service, Scott was a statesman. That’s not a word that I throw around lightly,” Governor J.B. Pritzker said. “He radiated joy, he always lent a helping hand when he knew that you needed it.” To honor that joy, state leaders planted a burr oak tree for Bennett at DACC.

* 25 News | Second Republican announces run for Illinois Senate seat: A former Livingston County Board member is announcing his intention to run for the Illinois Senate in the 53rd District, which covers many communities in the area. Mike Kirkton is the second Republican to formally enter the race to replace Sen. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City), who announced his retirement in late July.

* WBEZ | Mayor Brandon Johnson vows to hire a new leader to address gender-based violence: Darci Flynn served as the first director of gender-based violence strategy and policy within the mayor’s office – a position created by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Flynn submitted her resignation Sept. 21, and was terminated four days later, she said. In a statement, the 13-member Survivor Working Group of the city’s task force on gender-based violence said they are “deeply disturbed” by Flynn’s departure, which came amid budget discussions and the finalization of a second strategic plan for the city to address gender-based violence and human trafficking.

* Block Club | Chicago Could Receive ‘As Many As 22’ Migrant Buses On Wednesday Alone, Mayor Says: Mayor Brandon Johnson also confirmed he would join a city delegation to visit the southern border “as soon as possible.” More than 17,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Chicago since August 2022.

* Sun-Times | Lawsuit seeks to stop city from using public buildings to house migrants: In an amended suit, South Shore residents accuse the city of violating zoning ordinances and creating a public nuisance by placing new arrivals in schools, police stations.

* WBEZ | Isolated and afraid, pregnant migrants cobble together prenatal care any way they can: Regular prenatal care is a long established medical protocol that protects the health of mothers and babies – and Illinois even pays for it for up to one year postpartum no matter a person’s immigration status. Yet beyond putting expectant mothers on a priority list for shelter, Chicago “does not have specific protocol in place relating to women who arrive pregnant,” said Mary May, a spokesperson for the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communication. And many migrant women are potentially not getting medical care, according to WBEZ interviews with new arrivals, volunteers and medical professionals across the city.

* WBEZ | Toni Preckwinkle pitches a $9 billion Cook County budget with no new taxes, fees or hikes: Among her priorities, Preckwinkle is bracing to pay more to help provide medical care for thousands of asylum seekers arriving in Chicago. And she plans to tap about $166 million in reserves to continue some programs the county created with federal pandemic relief dollars after that lifeline runs out in a few years.

* Reader | How many opioid overdoses occur on the CTA?: Over the last four years, more than 150 people have died from opioid-related overdoses on the CTA—but CTA officials aren’t keeping track.

* Daily Herald | Three fire departments will fill gap after Elk Grove Township department’s demise: Mount Prospect Fire Chief John Dolan said he and chiefs from Elk Grove Village and Des Plaines have been meeting for two years to prepare. “To sit back and wait for it to happen would have been irresponsible,” he said. “Operationally, we had to collectively come up with ‘What are we going to do if one day, they just don’t show up?’ Which is exactly how it played out.”

* Tribune | Laid-off workers at abruptly closed Signature Room rally, sue for backpay and benefits: No one hinted the 95th floor restaurant and its 96th floor lounge would close when Abelar worked there the night before layoffs blindsided about 130 workers last Thursday, he said. The news shocked him, and he’s wondering how he’ll pay bills and go to the doctor.

* Tribune | Puerto Rican museum in Humboldt Park to tear down archives building amid complaints, lawsuit and find new site: But when the museum began construction about a year ago — without proper permits — on a cinder-block structure for archives beside the Chicago landmark, some residents and preservation groups were alarmed, calling it an eyesore that blemished the area’s historic charm and didn’t involve enough community input.

* AP | America’s nonreligious are a growing, diverse phenomenon. They really don’t like organized religion: In U.S. religion today, “the most important story without a shadow of a doubt is the unbelievable rise in the share of Americans who are nonreligious,” said Ryan Burge, a political science professor at Eastern Illinois University and author of “The Nones,” a book on the phenomenon. The nones account for a large portion of Americans, as shown by the 30% of U.S. adults who claim no religious affiliation in a survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

* Tribune | Brother of convicted Berrios son-in-law charged with lying to feds about alleged contacts with Outfit hit man: According to the six-page indictment, Weiss collected revenue and performed other services for his brother’s sweepstakes gaming business, which operated the quasi-legal machines that look like video poker terminals but are not regulated by the state.

* Tribune | Fans react to Lionel Messi’s absence at Chicago Fire game: ‘I’m not mad, just disappointed’: With waves of people wearing pink and black shirts with Messi’s name scattered throughout Soldier Field, the Bolingbrook dad said he was excited to be at the stadium for the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Messi, even on the bench.” Hernandez and his 12-year son, Noe, are both soccer fanatics; Hernandez is a coach for a suburban youth league, and his son plays in the league.