Good morning, South Bend.

Jeff Rea (former Mishawaka mayor) has returned to his hometown career roots and now leads the South Bend Regional Chamber; Mayor David Wood recently named the Kamm Island music pavilion in his honor.

Rea moved back in 1995, later serving as mayor and helming the chamber for 16 years.

Families celebrated Halloween early at Eddy Street Commons on Tuesday as the annual free trick-or-treat for children (12 and under) filled the commons with pumpkin giveaways, balloon twisting, crafts, games and music.

Pedigree Entertainment will host the 2nd Annual Halloween Sip & Paint on Saturday, Oct.

31, from 8 p.m. to midnight at Holiday Inn Mishawaka, with live music, comedy, a DJ, 50+ Halloween canvases, costume contests with cash prizes, a cash bar + vendors; 25% of profits donated to Rio’s Rainbow.

John Adams ceramics student Mateo Pacheco-Aguilar had his drawing turned into a 5-foot mural and it was displayed Tuesday at the McDonald’s on Miami Street.

He won $1,000, the school's art department received $500, a Goshen High winner will be revealed Wednesday, and both murals will stay up about a month.

The Boys and Girls Club of St. Joseph County held a free College and Career Expo for teens at Howard Park from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday to help high school students explore college programs and career paths.

South Bend Community School Corporation held its annual Showcase of Schools from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the former Clay High School, giving caregivers a chance to learn about district programs and connect with staff.

A judge ordered the South Bend Community School Corporation to make the former Clay High School building available for lease or purchase to Career Academy, reversing an earlier district decision.

The ruling reinstates a two-year-old state order and will take effect once the judgment becomes final and unappealable (the district can still appeal).

The St. Joseph County Department of Health hosted a lead screening event to test children and urged parents to get kids screened (county employee Kim Dreibelbeis said in a video).

Free lead testing kits, child blood screenings, and remediation help are available during Lead Safety Resource Week at South Bend City Hall, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Oct.

30 (215 S Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.). The city received a $7 million HUD grant to fund up to $40,000 per eligible home and plans to remediate 130–140 homes by 2029.

Voting for the Oct. 19-24 South Bend Tribune Athlete of the Week is open through Friday, Oct.

30 at 5 p.m. ET with no voting restrictions and 14 nominees from six coverage-area programs; no browser refresh is needed (publishers are fixing visibility issues affecting some voters).

Sophomore forward Leah Macy has returned from a right-knee injury to play this fall and scored 22 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and four steals in 30 minutes against Truman State on Oct.

26 + coach Niele Ivey says Macy’s versatility should help the Irish this season.

Freshman Luke Devine (6-foot-7, 215 pounds) will join Notre Dame as a preferred non-scholarship backup small forward for the 2026–27 season and will serve mainly as a practice player and teammate as the Irish open the season in Rome on Nov.

1.

Notre Dame safety Brauntae Johnson, recovering from surgery on his left foot, is ruled out again this weekend but coach Marcus Freeman says he could return “November-ish” (potentially for the Nov.

7 Miami game at Notre Dame Stadium).