The Evening Rush for Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks to City Council members after the budget was approved with a vote of 45-5 at City Hall on Tuesday, November 26, 2013. | Michael Jarecki/For Sun-Times Media

Smoke ’em if you got ’em – $7 billion budget 2014 gets green light

Another year, another easy, breezy path to passage for a mayor’s city budget. Mayor Rahm Emanuel faced little – if any – real opposition today from aldermen in getting his $7 billion 2014 budget approved. The process was much more calm than some heated budget hearings over the last couple of months have been. And, in the end, only five City Council members objected, with 45 others giving the 2014 budget a thumbs up. Included in the budget are the 50-cents-a-pack cigarette tax and more revenue from speed cameras. [Sun-Times]

SCOTUS revisits ACA

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an argument against the birth control coverage in Obamacare on the grounds of “religious freedom.” [L.A. Times]

Early polling

Public Policy Polling has put out its first poll for the 2014 races and – surprise – it’s a neck-and-neck race for Governor already between Pat Quinn and … [Sun-Times]

Cash for School

While pockets are empty for some schools, one affluent Lincoln Park school seems to be benefitting from extra coin. [The Reader]

Cubs Style

The Cubs will be allowed to sell beer on a new plaza thanks to a concession by the city, recognizing that’s the only way Cubs fans can tolerate the state of the team’s play these days. [Sun-Times]

Papal Thunder

The Pope is not impressed with the current state of income inequality in the world, though Occupy The Vatican has yet to become a new branch of the 99 Percent movement. [WaPo]

The Big House

William “Hog With the Big Nuts” Beavers lost an appeal and has to report directly to jail on Monday. [Sun-Times]

Bad Travel

Holiday travel weather outlook: still terrible. [Accuweather]

But They Have a Great Personality!

Need an ugly sweater for that holiday party? A North Side pop-up shop has you covered. [Sun-Times]

One Direction D-Line

One could argue the Bears defensive line played against the Rams this past Sunday like they were British boy band One Direction. [Chicagoist]

The Hall Call

A few familiar Chicago baseball faces once again find themselves on this year’s Major League Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. [AP via Sun-Times]

The Bright One

Likely 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton secured a hefty payday for a Chicago-area speech. Sneed has the scoop. [Sun-Times]

Commute

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

And finally

Finally, heroes: some Pennsylvania schools want to ban Axe body spray. [Fox]