The Evening Rush for Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013

“But Forrest, how will I get there if my Ventra card doesn’t work?” | Sun-Times Library

The next Ventra hurdle

With nothing going right in the Ventra rollout, there’s a new round of criticism for the new transit payment system and it’s directed at Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Specifically, minority contracts. Only 7.2 percent of the $329 million base contract with Cubic Transportation, the Ventra vendor — minus financing costs — is shared by black contractors, according to Fran Speilman’s report. Several local politicians, including U.S. Rep. Danny Davis and Ald. Howard Brookins, expressed their dismay at the number. [Sun-Times]

Going nuclear

The U.S. Senate found enough votes to drop the nuclear option on filibusters that prevented the voting on judicial candidates. [WaPo]

Tax smokes

Health officials are pressing Mayor Emanuel to keep his new cigarette tax in place for the 2014 budget. [Sun-Times]

Captives

A horrible story out of London where three women have been freed after being held captive for 30 years. [Telegraph]

Worker death

A contract worker died at O’Hare today after falling off the roof at Terminal 5. [Sun-Times]

Fisticuffs

An argument over an annex for Lincoln Elementary School got so heated that punches were exchanged. [DNA Info]

Gun fight

The new U.S. Attorney in Chicago is fighting back against Mayor Emanuel’s criticisms of gun prosecutions. [Sun-Times]

Justice

Though it does them little good now as they’ve long since been deceased, the last three of the Scottsboro Nine finally received pardons. [The Guardian]

Truce

The War on Deep Dish is over… for now. [Sun-Times]

Big bang!

Frightening science of the day: a bigger bang edition. [BBC]

Brother vs Brother

It’s a battle of the Long Brothers on Sunday when the Bears and Rams square off. [Sun-Times]

The Bright One

Brunch is serious business and while Chicago is now tops in the nation (per Yelp!), Brandon Wall helps you suss out the best spots in the city. [Sun-Times]

Commute

Sudoku; Weather; Traffic; CTA; Metra; Flight delays

And finally

The Brits have no patience for your mooning, children. [The Independent]