* ICYMI: Asylum seekers face their first Chicago winter. Sun-Times…

- Around 1,000 migrants are sleeping outside in tents while thousands more sleep inside police stations.
- Migrants who can sleep inside police stations are often forced out during the day.

* Related stories…

∙ Tribune: Freezing temperatures, uncertainty and concern among migrants living outside Chicago police stations: ‘How are we going to survive winter here?’
∙ NYT: In Chicago, a Neighborhood of Immigrants Is Conflicted About More Arrivals

* NBC Photographer George Mycyk yesterday…

The wind is strong and loud outside this police station at 51st and Wentworth on south side of Chicago as migrants try to stay warm inside their tents.
I did not see any warming buses. pic.twitter.com/D5tjUllHba

— George Mycyk NBC 🇺🇦 (@GeorgeMycykNBC) October 31, 2023

* Isabel’s top picks…

* NBC | J.B. Pritzker-backed group sends $250,000 to Virginia Democrats: Think Big America, a nonprofit group affiliated with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, is donating $250,000 to Virginia Democrats with a week to go before state legislative elections that could decide the future of abortion policy in the state. The group is sending $25,000 apiece to four Democrats running in battleground Senate districts: state Dels. Danica Roem and Schuyler Van Valkenburg, former prosecutor Russet Perry and entrepreneur Joel Griffin.

* Sun-Times | Pritzker’s science project: Aggressive bid for federal semiconductor center part of larger plan to make state hi-tech hub: With Chicago in the running for the $11 billion National Semiconductor Technology Center, a multi-university network of researchers and scientists are optimistic Illinois’ advances in engineering and manufacturing — especially quantum — will help them seal the deal. So is Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

* What’s your favorite made in Illinois product?…

It's here! The @IMA_Today released our brand new 2023 Made in Illinois poster today showcasing some of the amazing & innovative products made in the Land of Lincoln! Special thanks to @Nicor_Gas & @IMECillinois
which are tremendous partners who make manufacturers successful. pic.twitter.com/QbJfFY6VaA

— Mark Denzler (@IllinoisMfgAssc) October 30, 2023

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

* Center Square | Coalition lobbying for ‘assisted suicide’ law in Illinois getting pushback: A member of the coalition, Suzie Flack, lost her son to cancer and would like to see a gentle dying option. “I am hoping to carry on and tell his story and to reach people so they can understand that an option like this does provide a lot of comfort to terminally ill individuals,” Flack said.

* Forest Park Review | Former Obama campaign staffer running for Danny Davis’ seat: Kouri Marshall never held a political office before — but he’s still running on his record. That record including work for President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign and work for former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin (1st) and Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Marshall also touted his work in the nonprofit sector. He serves as a director of state and local public policy for the Chamber of Progress, a trade organization for technology companies.

* Madison-St. Clair Record | Everytown for Gun Safety and others file amicus briefs supporting gun liability law, claiming ‘bad actors in the gun industry … enable gun violence’: The National Shooting Sports Foundation petitioned for the injunction, seeking protection under the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. Raveendran of Chicago, who in March filed a brief backing the ban on what the state defines as assault weapons, filed the current brief.

* Sun-Times | Rahm or Ed? Expert quizzed on who had most clout in preview of possible Burke trial testimony: Elmhurst University political science professor Constance Mixon agreed during a sneak preview of her potential trial testimony that Burke’s role as the Council’s finance chairman put him in a “powerful and influential position.” She said he’s often been described as the Council “dean,” and she noted he has a “deep history” of the city’s legislative body.

* Tribune | Aldermen support March referendum on real estate transfer tax, sending ordinance to full City Council: In a 32-16 vote, the rules committee approved the revamped “Bring Chicago Home” measure, which offers a tiered tax rate on all property sales. Advocates say it would generate much-needed revenue for the city’s homeless population, but opponents in the real estate industry have warned that it would put a further damper on an already-fragile market for offices, retail and apartment buildings and drive up costs for tenants.

* Reuters | US Supreme Court won’t wade into Chicago parking meter fight: The justices rejected the drivers’ appeal of an April ruling from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld Chicago’s long term contract with Chicago Parking Meters LLC. The drivers have argued the contract and its restrictions on the city gave Chicago Parking Meters an unlawful monopoly in violation of U.S. antitrust law.

* Daily Herald | Rising pension costs to test Schaumburg’s ability to keep tax levy pledge: Since 2009, Schaumburg officials have kept a promise not to increase the property tax levy they established that year because of the economic recession. But they will soon face a dilemma when it comes to that pledge, due to rising police and firefighter pension costs that within a few years could consume the entire levy.

* WBEZ | The Calumet Water Reclamation Plant preps for the future as the climate continues to change: “I’ve been in the wastewater industry for 24 years now. And it seems like more and more events we’re having,” said Dan Mikso, one of the engineers at the plant. Despite more frequent floods, plant officials said they are ready for the challenge.

* CoStar | Jury Finds Brokers Conspired To Inflate Commissions, Awards Missouri Home Sellers Almost $1.8 Billion: The Chicago-based NAR has contended that the system provides an efficient marketplace accessible to all consumers. But the complaints, including the one for the lawsuit resolved in Kansas City, alleged that the practice is anticompetitive because it requires NAR-member agents to list all properties on regional multiple listing services, with broker commissions agreed to before a home is listed for sale.

* Pioneer Press | Sean Loughran sworn in as new Glencoe Public Safety Director: On Oct. 7, the Hamas terrorist group attacked Israel killing hundreds and taking many others hostage. By the end of that day, local organizers scheduled a large rally supporting Israel at Glencoe’s North Shore Congregation Israel, headlined by Governor J.B. Pritzker. The rally required large law enforcement presence and might have been a challenge for the head of any agency no matter how long they had been on the job. In the case of Glencoe Public Safety Director Sean Loughran, he had been in his new role for less than a week.

* Sun-Times | Pot shop company files suit to blunt planned dispensary at former Rainforest Cafe, limit proximity of minority-owned stores: The lawsuit filed Monday in Cook County by GRI Holdings alleges the proposed Consume Cannabis dispensary at 605 N. Clark St. violates state law by opening within 1,500 feet of its Green Rose Dispensary.

* Block Club | Aunt Martha’s Gets Unexpected $9 Million From MacKenzie Scott: Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness, a nonprofit that serves over 105,000 children and adults each year at 30 locations in Illinois, received a $9 million award through the Chicago Community Trust from Scott’s Yield Giving charity fund, the organization announced Tuesday.