AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Deal reached, nothing solved, D.C. stinks
It looks like maybe — just maybe — there may be a bipartisan deal reached in the effort to reopen the government and avoid default. But nothing significant has been accomplished by Republicans who forced this shutdown and it’s really only pushing the same deadlines back a few months. Er, excuse me, allowing more time for negotiations to continue. Whatever. The two chambers of Congress should push through votes later tonight and President Barack Obama will sign the bill. And then, in a few months, we get to go through this whole disaster again. Only Shakespeare could properly describe such a farce as what’s unfolded in D.C. the past two-plus weeks: “It is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury / Signifying nothing.” [Sun-Times, Live blog, Sweet, WaPo]
UNO gets probed
Just when it looked like things were quieting down for the scandal-plagued UNO charter school organization, here comes the SEC to probe their finances. [Sun-Times]
The *other* important talks
While you were distracted by the nonsense in D.C., there are some serious negotiations happening over Iran’s nuclear future. [BBC]
Baseball bat beating trial opens
The trial of a man accused in the baseball bat beating of two women in 2010 saw opening statements today. [Sun-Times]
The Rock slumber party
A former inmate got to spend the night at his old cell on Alcatraz. [NPR]
2015
A few aldermen are finally talking about maybe running for mayor against Rahm Emanuel in 2015. [Sun-Times]
Quiet your mourning
Legislation has been introduced to crack down on overly exuberant funeral processions. [DNA Info]
Speed Racer
Those new speed cameras are up and filming on Foster Ave. (aka “Faster Ave.”). [Sun-Times]
Walt & Jesse
Don’t worry, you haven’t seen the last of your favorite meth makers, TV fans. [The Atlantic Wire]
Welcome back
Welcome back, Derrick. Happy to see you again. [Sun-Times]
TNF
Now we may get TWO nearly unwatchable NFL games on Thursday nights because greed, that’s why. [Deadspin]
The Bright One
Kim Janssen has the story of a Chicago man with some important artifacts of black history, but he’s telling Harvard University, which wants the artifacts, to pay up or he’ll burn them. [Sun-Times]
Commute
Sudoku; Weather; Traffic; CTA; Metra; Flight delays
And finally
The most famous book for each state. Sorry, Washington, just … sorry. [Business Insider]