💊 It's Monday. On this day in 1982, the Chicago Tylenol murders began. Idaho authorities announced an update in the case last week.

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny with a high of 72.

🎂 Happy birthday to our members Michaeline Hade and Timothy Cunningham!

Today’s newsletter is 1,099 words — a 4-minute read.

House hunters, this is your week.

The big picture: Sept. 27-Oct. 3 may be the best week of the year to buy a home, according to a new Realtor.com report.

Why it matters: Nationwide, shoppers could find up to 32% more homes for sale than at the start of the year and face less competition than in spring and summer, per the report.

• Chicago has nearly 17% more active listings than a typical week, while median listing prices are nearly 6% below their seasonal peak.
• In the city proper, the median listing price for a home is $385,000.

State of play: Chicago homebuyers are eager, Zillow reports.

• Chicago had 5.7 engaged home shoppers per listing this past spring, compared to a national median of 4.8.
• Engaged home shoppers are people who saved or shared a for-sale listing on Zillow, a step up from casual browsing.

Yes, but: The interest didn't lead to closings. Home sales cooled in the summer, which realtors attribute to rising mortgage rates from the Iran conflict.

Reality check: The Federal Reserve raised interest rates earlier this month to near 7%, and stubbornly high home prices continue to sideline many.

• U.S. existing-home sales fell 2% in August, down 1.2% from a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The fine print: Realtor.com analyzed several years of seasonal housing data, including listing prices and inventory levels, to determine the best week to buy a home nationally in the 50 largest U.S. metros.

• Mortgage rates weren't included.

The bottom line: Buyers may get a little more breathing room this fall — if they can clear the affordability hurdle.

Share with a house hunter

When Chicago physician Geeta Maker-Clark launched her book "Medicine For All People" this summer, she knew there had to be dancing — and lots of it.

The big picture: Maker-Clark says that dance offers therapeutic effects and is one of the "most powerful lifestyle factors for reducing dementia risk."

Yes, but: Dance is just one of the nine medicines (or, as she frames them, "remembrances") the Evanston-based integrative physician illuminates in her lyrical new book.

• Others include nature, food, plants, community, service, trust, gratitude and play.

Driving the news: Maker-Clark will discuss "Medicine For All" and demonstrate some of its recipes Wednesday at Hewn Bakery in Evanston.

The bottom line: "We already have many of the medicines we need to move with more energy, calm our nervous systems, nourish our bodies, strengthen our relationships, and protect our long-term health," Maker-Clark says.

Favorite places to dance: "I love to dance with my sisters of Ayodele Drum and Dance on the South Side (classes are Monday nights at Sherman Park!) on the beach in the summer with friends, and at home in my living room."

If you go: Tickets for Wednesday's event cost $95 and include a Q&A with the author, an autographed copy of the book, bites and drinks from Hewn's kitchen, and a cooking demo.

🕺🏻 Your turn: Where's your favorite place to dance? Hit reply and tell us.

Share this story

⛳️ President Trump addressed a crowd yesterday before the final round of the President's Cup in Medinah, saying the U.S. is "better than ever before." It was Trump's first visit to Illinois during this presidency. (Sun-Times)

🐳 Two beluga whales who died at the Shedd since arriving this summer from Canada had chronic inflammatory disease within their gastrointestinal systems, preliminary findings revealed. (Block Club)

⚾️ The Cubs play the San Diego Padres tomorrow, and the Sox take on the Houston Astros the same day to kick off the best-of-three Wild Card Series. Both teams are away. (Tribune)

Every day, we work to bring you the local stories, insights and updates that help you stay connected to your community.

📍 Become a member today. Your support helps us continue delivering trusted local reporting and keeps our newsroom focused on the stories that matter most.

Help keep local journalism strong where you live.

Last week, we asked you if the Halloween decorations starting to adorn porches felt too early for the season.

👻 The results: 58% of you — Justin included — said, "Yes!" You're still enjoying summer.

• 42% get in the spooky spirit early like Carrie.

🎄 One thing we can all agree on? It's waaaaay too early for Christmas trees!

👋 Hey, it's Justin.

Tonight, the Axios squad will play for a Kup League championship under the lights at the 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame diamonds in Forest Park.

Why it matters: Chicago's game is about mush balls, beers and, yes, broken fingers. But once in a while, there's rec league glory, too.

State of play: Our little team battled all season and started clicking just as the playoffs began. Tonight, we take on the mighty WGN Radio team, helmed by my former co-manager Ernie Scatton.

Fun fact: Ernie and I took the WGN Radio team to the finals in 2019, when I worked there. So this is a nice little rivalry game.

• Ernie is spirited (loud), but then again, so am I.
• Tonight will mark my sixth championship game appearance.

Context: The Kup League — Chicago's 16-inch media softball league — has grown since its start in 2011. Today, teams represent WBEZ, Sun-Times, Block Club, Tribune, the Reader, CHIRP, City Bureau and WGN, along with some great freelance squads.

Zoom in: Win or lose tonight, this group of old and new friends will always be bonded by our big moments under the brightest of lights.

Reality check: This may be the hardest thing I'll ever write in this newsletter: Unfortunately, I will NOT be at the game. Monica won't be there either. Carrie retired but has won a championship.

• We're in Atlanta for an Axios work retreat.

The bottom line: Softball is life, man. I can't wait to celebrate the team's big win when I touch down at O'Hare later this week.

🏆 Prediction: Axios 42, WGN Radio 2.

Edited by Larry Graham.

🤗 Carrie is excited to see her family in Atlanta this week — her Axios one and real one.

🏈 Justin is desperately trying to find a Case Keenum jersey in Atlanta for tonight's Monday Night Football matchup.

🗓️ Monica is on sabbatical.

Want more Axios Chicago content? Check out our Instagram for extra stuff to do, behind-the-scenes photos, videos and more!