The Evening Rush for Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013

The must-read news stories for Aug. 14, 2013

Jesse Jackson Jr., and his wife, Sandi, leave federal court in Washington on Wednesday. | Susan Walsh/AP

Judgment day for the Jacksons

It was judgment day for the Jacksons as Jesse Jackson Jr. was sentenced to 30 months in prison (which could be reduced to about 25 months with good behavior) for illegal use of his campaign funds. While the judge had harsh words for both Jesse and his wife, former alderman Sandi Jackson, the 30-month sentence seemed light in lieu of the one-year prison term handed down to Sandi (as well as $22,000 in resitution payments). The prison term for Sandi came a day after her attorney had requested probation and community service as punishment. In addition, the judge made it clear she sentenced Sandi to one year as opposed to one year and one; had she done the latter, Sandi may have been eligible for early release, but with the one-year term, Sandi must serve it in full. Jesse must turn himself in on or before Nov. 1 to begin his sentence, and Sandi will begin hers 30 days after Jesse is released. It was a tense day with plenty of harsh words handed down from the bench, and Natasha Korecki and Lynn Sweet were there to hear it all. [Sun-Times, Editorial, Jesse Jr. e-book]

Turmoil in Egypt

More turmoil has broken out in Egypt in clashes that have left more than 149 dead after security forces stormed pro-Morsi camps. The interim government has declared a state of emergency with curfews in effect, and vice president Mohamed ElBaradei resigned in protest. [N.Y. Times, WaPo]

When a school closes, a charter opens

Just weeks after the historic (in a bad way) closure and consolidation of several dozen schools, CPS now wants — wait for it — new schools. Charter schools, that is. According to an RFP CPS quietly posted on its website, it hopes to open several new charter schools over the next two years. Lucky for you, CPS, I hear there are dozens of empty school buildings and hundreds of qualified teachers and staff members available. [Sun-Times]

Deadly crash

A UPS cargo plane crashed on its landing approach by the Birmingham, Ala., airport, killing both the pilot and co-pilot. [AL.com]

Seeing red

Because the last red-light camera wasn’t enough of a debacle, Chicago has picked a new firm to head its red-light camera initiative that was previously dumped by the city of Baltimore due to faulty equipment that issued thousands of tickets by mistake. Good times! [Sun-Times]

RIP

Jack W. Germond, renowned journalist and political columnist. [Baltimore Sun]

Sand traps

Investigators have found yet another hole in the Indiana dunes where a young boy was trapped last month. [Sun-Times]

Melting pot

Mapping the ethnicity of America, person by person. [Gizmodo]

Gov Feud

Bill Daley and Gov. Pat Quinn continue to play the feud with the gubernatorial election still 15 months away. [Sun-Times]

Top Chef, ahoy!

Two Chicago chefs — Aaron Cuschieri (Slurpling Turtle) and Carlos Gaytan (Mexique) — are heading to the Bravo reality game show. [Gapers Block]

Nothing RTs 2 U

Prince discovers Twitter; Twitter freaks out. [Pitchfork]

Long live the Fridge

The rumors of William “The Refrigerator” Perry’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. [Sun-Times]

Worthy?

According to Forbes, the Bears are the eighth most valuable NFL franchise, but no word on whether that’s with or without the offensive line. [ESPN]

The Bright One

Sorry, Jay Cutler supporters, but Rick Telander is not impressed. [Sun-Times]

Commute

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

And finally

The incredible, horrifying story of the Inman twins, heirs to the vast Duke tobacco fortune. [Rolling Stone]