The must-read news stories for Monday, Aug. 12, 2013
During cross-examination in the Johnny Borizov trial last April, Jacob Nodarse holds the gun used to shoot and kill Michael Kramer and Kramer’s parents, Jeffrey and Lori. (Keri Wiginton/Pool)
75-year sentence in 2010 Darien triple murder
Jacob Nodarse, 26, will likely be behind bars until he is 98 years old after being sentenced to 75 years in prison Monday for gunning down three members of a family in Darien. Earlier, Nodarse pleaded guilty but mentally ill in the shootings of the Kramer family: Jeffrey, 50; Lori, 48; and their son, Michael, 20. Nodarse was coerced into the attacks by former friend Johnny Borizov, who was involved in a child custody battle at the time and was sentenced to life in prison last month. [Sun-Times]
Tables turn for taxpayers
Fran Spielman reports that a settlement payout will actually work in the city’s favor for once. Big Pharma will pay the city $2.5 million after being accused of marking up the prices of more than 400 prescription drugs purchased by city employees and retirees insured by Chicago. [Sun-Times]
“Breaking Bad” breaking records
The AMC hit show lit up Twitter last night and destroyed its previous ratings record. Nearly 6 million viewers tuned in. [Voices]
‘L’ is for Luigi
You’re forgiven if you mistake your Brown Line train home tonight for a Green Line train. Luigi, brother of Nintendo icon Mario, has taken over for a neat promotion. [RedEye]
Meanwhile, on the Blue Line . . .
Five people were arrested — including two men possibly dressed as women — after a bike messenger was robbed early this morning on the CTA. [Sun-Times]
Loops in the Loop
Dale Earnhardt Jr. took to State Street in front of the Chicago Theatre to do a burn-out in advance of next month’s Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. [DNAinfo]
‘Whitey’ Bulger convicted
The notorious Boston gangster was found guilty in a string of 11 killings in the 1970s and ’80s. His defense attorney says he will appeal. [boston.com]
The Tweedy effect
Sasha Frere-Jones convenes a panel on how musicians will survive in the era of Spotify, including a look at the business model of Chicago’s own Wilco and Jeff Tweedy, who was profiled recently in Grid. [The New Yorker]
Rodeo no-no
A rodeo clown who was widely criticized for mocking the president by wearing a mask and asking the audience if they wanted to see “Obama run down by a bull” has been permanently banned from the Missouri State Fair. [Sun-Times]
Who is Karen Lewis?
Among the things you may not have known about the president of the Chicago Teachers Union: She’s a “gourmet cook, film student and fluent Italian speaker who recently celebrated her bat mitzvah.” [Crain’s]
Leakers are monsters!
Lady Gaga, who has been spending time in Chicago lately (including to get her septum pierced), declared a “pop music emergency” in response to leaks of her new track, “Applause.” So she released it early. [Voices]
Get your eBooks!
The newest batch of Sun-Times eBooks is live and they’re free for members. Check out our lists of the 50 best Cubs and White Sox players and remember past years when you cared about baseball in August and beyond. [Sun-Times]
The Bright One
Michael Jordan can still dunk. Of course Michael Jordan can still dunk. He’s Michael Jordan. [Voices]
Commute
Sudoku; Weather; Traffic; CTA; Metra; Flight delays
And finally
Footage from the bizarre unreleased Jerry Lewis Holocaust film — “The Day the Clown Cried” — has surfaced. Oh, my. [Los Angeles Times]
