Good morning, Chicago. Hard Rock Rockford had a huge debut at its new permanent casino, jumping from ninth to second in Illinois in both gaming revenue and visitors during its first full month. The sprawling entertainment complex generated $13.7 million in adjusted gross receipts and drew more than 157,000 visitors for September, topping every casino in the state but perennial leader Rivers Casino Des Plaines, according to data released yesterday by the Illinois Gaming Board. Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Casino Rockford, said the meteoric monthly rise was in the cards. “We had no expectations of jumping over Rivers — that’s a pretty tall order,” Iafrate said. “But to be honest, we fully expected to move into second place. Our first full month of operations was very successful.” Read the full story from the Tribune’s Robert Channick. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day. Subscribe to more newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Today’s eNewspaper edition Noah Weibel and his dog Cookie climb the steps to their home as their family prepares for Hurricane Milton on Oct. 7, 2024, in Port Richey, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson) Time to evacuate is running out as Hurricane Milton closes in on Florida Hurricane Milton churned toward a potentially catastrophic collision along the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay after millions were ordered to evacuate and officials warned that stragglers would face grim odds of surviving. Tracking map: Where Hurricane Milton is forecast to hit Florida Michael Madigan, 82, left, former speaker of the Illinois House and head of the state Democratic Party, and his longtime confidant, ex-lobbyist Michael McClain, 77, are charged in a 23-count superseding indictment filed in Oct. 2022 with racketeering conspiracy and a host of other crimes. (Brian Cassella and Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Woman who reported sex harassment in Madigan camp to testify at ex-speaker’s racketeering trial The woman whose sexual harassment allegations against a Democratic political operative sent shockwaves through Springfield in 2018 will testify for the prosecution in the trial of ex-House speaker Michael Madigan — though details about the alleged misconduct will be kept from the jury. Alaina Hampton’s participation as a government witness was revealed yesterday as jury selection in Madigan’s racketeering trial finally got underway. The Tribune broke the story in 2018 of Hampton’s #MeToo-era accusations against 13th Ward Democratic insider Kevin Quinn, the brother of Madigan’s handpicked alderman, which led to Quinn’s high-profile ouster. Democratic Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has revoked a handful of license plates that display some iteration of the date “Oct. 7” after people complained after seeing pictures of this plate on social media and thought it appeared to endorse last year’s attack on Jewish citizens. This post on the social media platform X shows one of the licenses plates recalled. (X/Twitter) Illinois secretary of state’s office rescinds license plates with variations of ‘October 7’ In a decision that is raising free speech questions while wading into the political sensitivities surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, Democratic Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has revoked a handful of license plates that display some iteration of the date “October 7” after his office fielded complaints that one plate appeared to endorse last year’s attack on Jewish citizens. Catholic Child Sex AbuseEileen T. Meslar/Chicago TribuneIllinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks at a press conference in May. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Attorney general suit says TikTok designed to ‘addict young users in Illinois’ Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul yesterday filed one of more than a dozen state-level lawsuits nationwide against TikTok, arguing that the endless-scrolling vertical video app is taking advantage of children and harming their mental health. The lawsuit comes on the heels of Illinois legislation cracking down the use of deepfakes and enacting strict regulations on biometric technology and child influencers. A Chicago police officer wears a button for slain Officer John Rivera at the wake at Elmwood Funeral Chapel, March 28, 2019. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Man found guilty in slaying of off-duty CPD officer in River North A Cook County jury found a man guilty of murder in the shooting death of an off-duty Chicago police officer in River North in 2019, according to court records. Menelik Jackson, 29, was convicted of murder and aggravated battery in the fatal shooting of Officer John Rivera, 23, which also injured another man, following a jury trial that began last week. Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) and Utah Hockey Club center Barrett Hayton (27) face off during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Oct. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Spenser Heaps) Chicago Blackhawks lose the season opener 5-2 to the Utah Hockey Club in its inaugural game The Utah Hockey Club officially started its own NHL history to great fanfare Tuesday, christening the Delta Center and their franchise’s birth with a 5-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. 5 things we learned from Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson before the season opener — including the roster changes Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the Panthers on Oct. 6, 2024, at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Chicago Bears Q&A: Where has Caleb Williams made the most progress? What changed on the offensive line? The Chicago Bears are across the pond, preparing for Sunday’s game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coming off a pair of home wins, the Bears packed good vibes for their trip to London. But plenty of questions remain, and the Tribune’s Brad Biggs addresses some in his weekly Bears mailbag. Coach Abe Saperstein and his Chicago-based Harlem Globetrotters before a trip to London in 1963. From left to right are Howard Montgomery, Jackie Jackson, J.C. Gipson, Bill “The Orbit” Garner, Walter Kennedy and Murphy Summons. (Tribune archive photo) Column: New book explores the life of Abe Saperstein, the Chicago dynamo who created the Globetrotters Short in physical stature but a giant in his time, Abe Saperstein created in Chicago that international sensation called the Harlem Globetrotters, writes Rick Kogan. That remains his most notable and influential accomplishment but this was a man of inexhaustible energy and ideas. You can add to that achievement such others as pioneering the three-point shot; heightening basketball’s popularity across the country and planet; promoting an array of talents, from musicians to movie stars, from the Ice Capades to a French portrait painter; working with baseball’s Bill Veeck and others to break major league baseball’s color barrier and promote pitcher Satchel Paige; and rescuing Olympic star Jesse Owens from poverty. Peso Pluma performs at the United Center in Chicago on Oct. 5, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Peso Pluma plays a sold-out United Center after 2 canceled performances Fans at long last got a glimpse of Mexican superstar Peso Pluma in Chicago this past weekend, with him selling out both Saturday and Sunday night at the United Center after two previously planned shows were canceled. The White Cliffs section of the Missouri River in Montana is known for its scenery and wildlife. (Jean-Erick Pasquier/Getty Images) On a birder’s canoe trip in eastern Montana, each bend of the mighty Missouri River reveals surprises There is a rhythm to canoeing that is connected to the natural cycles of the river. You reach forward to dig a paddle into the water and then pull that paddle along the hull of the canoe, propelling the boat forward and watching the river glide by. During a 47-mile trip along the Missouri River in eastern Montana’s Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, each bend in the river revealed new surprises: Towering white cliffs, hoodoos that resembled goblins, badlands of multicolored sandstone, bleached cottonwood snags and many beautiful birds.