Good afternoon! It’s Tuesday, and I’ve had this song about Mars stuck in my head since yesterday’s news about Venus. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Pelosi says House will stay in session until a deal is reached on coronavirus relief

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today said the House will not leave for the November elections without first reaching a deal on another coronavirus rescue package.

The news comes as rank-and-file lawmakers from both parties have grown increasingly worried about returning home without a deal and facing voters. Earlier in the day, a bipartisan group of 50 lawmakers announced a $1.5 trillion stimulus plan, an effort to jumpstart negotiations while also showing that a middle ground could be reached in negotiations.

Democrats and Republicans have largely been divided over the price tag of another stimulus package. Democrats have called for a more expansive response to the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic, while spending hawks in the GOP want a more targeted approach. [Washington Post]

Absent a federal relief plan, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker today said state agencies should prepare for 5% cuts to this year’s budget and 10% cuts next year. Pritzker signed a budget plan that recently took effect and banked on federal aid to help close a massive deficit. [WBEZ]

2. West Coast struggles with unhealthy air quality from wildfires

People in Oregon, Washington and parts of California are confronting a choking blanket of smog caused by the region’s wildfires, resulting in the most unhealthy air quality on the planet by some measurements, the AP reports. And it’s not clear when the smoke will clear up.

“I can feel it in my chest and then I just feel hungover despite not drinking,” a longtime resident of Portland told the AP. “I felt really hungover all day Saturday. I just couldn’t get enough water, I had a headache.” [AP]

California’s Bay Area has been under a hazardous air alert for almost a month, a new record. [NBC Bay Area]

Meanwhile, forecasters say winds, which have fueled the spread of the blazes, could be gentler today in areas facing some of the most devastation. [New York Times]

3. What campaign TV ads say about where Biden and Trump are focusing their attention

Based on where both campaigns are spending the most on TV ads, the race between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden is coming down to just six swing states: Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona, reports NPR.

The Biden campaign and groups supporting his candidacy have spent almost 90% of their money in those states, while Trump and Republican organizations have spent 78 cents of every dollar. [NPR]

Meanwhile, Biden is expected to court Latino voters during a trip to Florida today. Some Democrats are worried Biden’s support among Latino voters is slipping in the swing state. Biden could theoretically win the election without Florida, but the state remains crucial to Trump’s reelection. [AP]

4. Louisville to pay $12 million to Breonna Taylor’s family

The city of Louisville announced a settlement today over the killing of Breonna Taylor, whose fatal shooting by police sparked nationwide protests against racial injustice.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said the city will pay Taylor’s family $12 million, the largest settlement paid by the city for police misconduct. The settlement comes after Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Louisville.

The agreement also includes reforming police practices, such as how warrants are handled by police. Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was fatally shot several times by police, who had used flawed information to obtain a “no-knock” warrant for her apartment.

Taylor’s shooting is currently under investigation by Kentucky’s attorney general. [AP]

5. Partisan fights take center stage in committee investigation of House Speaker Michael Madigan

A legislative committee is investigating Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in the wake of a bribery charge against the utility giant ComEd related to its lobbying efforts in Springfield. But partisan disagreements on the committee appear to put the future of its very own investigation into question, report WBEZ’s Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold.

The latest flare-up centers on a phone conversation between lawmakers and U.S. Attorney John Lausch, whose office is involved in the criminal investigation into ComEd’s prolific Springfield lobbying operation.

Republicans and Democrats on the legislative committee agree that Lausch gave them the OK to call witnesses. But they disagree on pretty much everything else that came out of that conversation, like whether they can question witnesses, such as Madigan, about potentially confidential aspects of the federal probe.

While Madigan has not been charged and he denies any wrongdoing, he is the only person who fits a description of “Public Official A” in an agreed statement between the feds and ComEd. In it, the power company admitted it gave jobs and contracts to Madigan associates in exchange for favorable legislation. [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

• Illinois officials announced 1,466 new coronavirus cases and an additional 20 deaths. [WBEZ]
• Most Illinois public universities were able to avoid dramatic declines in enrollment. [WBEZ]
• Forecasters say Hurricane Sally could land near the Alabama-Mississippi state line later today or early tomorrow. [AP]
• A trailer is out for Season 2 of The Mandalorian. [A.V. Club]

Oh, and one more thing …

How can Chicago restaurants provide outdoor dining when the notoriously cold winter bears down on the city? Through igloos, shipping containers and school buses, according to some of the hundreds of plans submitted to City Hall.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration announced the “Winter Design Challenge” last month and received more than 600 ideas from 13 countries.

According to the Chicago Tribune, some of the submissions were clearly jokes. Case in point: a plan using six leaf blowers to keep the cold and snow away. [Chicago Tribune]

Tell me something good …

It feels more and more like the fall with each day. So I’d like to know: What are you most looking forward to about autumn?

Dane writes:

“I’m looking forward to my quarantine-safe dadchelor party camping trip to the middle of Wisconsin.”

And Sarah Scheurich writes:

“What’s not to love about fall? Halloween is my favorite day of the year, plus I will turn 36 on the 20th. The changing leaves crunching underfoot, hoodie weather, darker beers, apple cider, in season fall harvest vegetables for roasting and feasting, scary movies (while safely under protective blankets), more blankets… It’s the best season!”

What are you looking forward to this fall? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

Have a nice night! If you like what you just read, you can subscribe to the newsletter here and have it delivered to your inbox.