Hey there! It’s Monday, and Hunter had to take a last-minute 14-hour road trip, so you’re stuck with me again. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Aldermen call for further changes after park district CEO steps down amid lifeguard abuse probe

Longtime Chicago Park District CEO Michael Kelly resigned this weekend after facing blowback over his handling of an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse among lifeguards at local beaches and pools — a move critics say is just “the tip of the iceberg” when it comes to addressing the scandal.

“We know that sexual abuse is endemic at the park district and to fully remove it, we need to go through and clean up the whole system at the park district,” said Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd Ward. “That’s going to include a lot more people being gone.”

One of the people he wants out: Park District Board President Avis LaVelle, who is leading the effort to find a replacement for Kelly. On Sunday, Waguespack told WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos he gave the mayor’s office a list of people he thinks could help enact reforms. [WBEZ]

2. Drugmaker asks FDA to authorize anti-COVID pill

Could a single pill help combat COVID-19? Pharmaceutical company Merck says yes, today asking the Food and Drug administration to authorize its antiviral capsule for emergency use.

The at-home virus treatment could be a groundbreaking development, since other approved therapies require either an IV or an injection. If approved, the drug — which cut hospitalizations and deaths by half among trial patients with early symptoms of COVID-19, according to Merck — would be the first pill shown to effectively treat the illness.

Still, top health experts argue the best defense against the virus is getting vaccinated. [AP]

In Chicago, 58.3% of residents are fully vaccinated and 63.5% have gotten at least one dose. [COVID Dashboard]

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members have yet to get one or both vaccine shots as immunization deadlines near. [WaPo]

3. Facebook unveils new safety features after whistleblower testifies its social media platforms are bad for kids

Facebook and Instagram are rolling out new controls for youth on their existing social media platforms after pausing work on a so-called “Instagram for Kids.”

Some of the updates: a feature that nudges children and teens to take a break from scrolling, and one that notifies them if they continually view content that might be detrimental to their mental health. Parents will also have more options for monitoring what their child is looking at online.

The changes come after whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee, came forward with evidence that the social media company’s apps are harmful for youth. [AP]

Here’s a fascinating look at how she planned for her explosive testimony. [WaPo]

4. The Sky and the Sox continue their quest for postseason glory

The Chicago Sky and the White Sox both notched victories this weekend to keep their postseason dreams alive — at least for now.

The Sky took an early lead in their best-of-five matchup against the Phoenix Mercury with a 91-77 win Friday night. Game 2 of the WNBA Finals is set for Wednesday in Phoenix and will be broadcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. CT. [Chicago Tribune]

And don’t count the Sox out just yet. With a crowd of more than 40,000 fans behind them, the South Side team avoided elimination from the American League Division Series last night with a 12-6 victory over the Houston Astros. The Astros now lead the Sox two games to one. [Chicago Tribune]

Due to expected rain, Game 4 of the best-of-five series has been rescheduled for tomorrow at 1:07 p.m.

5. Biden takes a big step forward for Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and this year’s celebration has a special significance: It’s the first time a U.S. president has officially recognized the holiday.

Following the example of several states and more than 100 cities, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation last week calling on Americans to observe Oct. 11 as a day honoring Native peoples. The move comes after a decades-long push from Indigenous activists to abolish Columbus Day, the celebration of Italian colonizer Christopher Columbus that falls on the same date.

While Columbus Day remains a federal holiday, Native organizers see Biden’s announcement as a step in the right direction.

“I still don’t think I’ve fully absorbed what that has meant,” said Dylan Baca, president of the Indigenous Peoples’ Initiative. “This is a profound thing the president has done, and it’s going to mean a lot to so many people.” [NPR]

Looking for a way to mark the holiday locally? Here’s how to learn more about the legacy of Native peoples in Chicago. [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

• First lady Jill Biden will visit Chicago this week to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. [Sun-Times]

• A new federally funded training program will teach Chicago anti-violence workers how to cope with trauma and burnout. [WBEZ]

• A former Navy engineer and his wife have been arrested on espionage charges after allegedly attempting to sell military secrets. [NPR]

• It’s National Coming Out Day. Here’s some advice on how to navigate the conversation on both sides. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

Some Chicago sanitation trucks are apparently leaking “garbage juice” along their collection routes in Albany Park — and residents are raising a stink. Luckily for us, WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel got the gossip on the gross goo.

“It’s a mixture of motor oil, yellow, sort of wet sewage,” one person told her.

“It’s like a white yellow-ish kind of vomit color, I guess?” another described.

And it smells like all of those things — maybe add in rotten milk — mixed together.

So where is this garbage juice coming from? According to the head of the city’s streets and sanitation department, the leak is caused by a broken plug on some trucks. Two vehicles have been pulled for repair. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

While I’m not one for horror movies, I do love a good ghost story. As we get closer to Halloween, I want to know: What’s the scariest spot in Chicago?

In my opinion, it has to be the Eternal Silence sculpture in Graceland Cemetery, otherwise known as the Statue of Death. Legend says that if you look into the hooded figure’s eyes, you’ll see a vision of your own untimely end.

What about you? Send us your most haunted hangouts, and we might share them here this week.