The Evening Rush for Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Jon Burge

Rahm sorry about police torture; city pays out $12.3M

This third round of settlements related to the torture of black suspects by ex-Commander Jon Burge goes to Ronald Kitchen and Marvin Reeves, who spent more than 20 years in prison for murders they didn’t commit. Mayor Rahm Emanuel issued a long-overdue apology to the victims, although he wasn’t mayor at the time. Said Rahm: “This is a dark chapter on the history of the city of Chicago. I want to build a future for the city. . . . But, we have to close the books on this. We have to reconcile our past. . . . Yes, there has been a settlement. And I do believe that this is a way of saying all of us are sorry about what happened. . . . and closing that stain on the city’s reputation . . . . That is not who we are.” He was a little more eloquent on Letterman. [Sun-Times]

9/11 anniversary

On the 12th anniversary of 9/11, Chicago firefighters “remember the total disbelief” and Lynn Sweet shares a column from Sept. 13, 2001, predicting Americans would sacrifice some liberties for security. [Sun-Times, Voices]

Not CPS’ biggest fans

Yesterday’s record-tying heat apparently prompted CPS to distribute small handheld fans to students. Because those work really well, and they’re not fun at all to stick in your classmate’s ear. [Voices]

Victims of Ventra

The CTA plans to eliminate 149 positions, about one-third of which are related to the new Ventra system because it removes the need for some cash-counting and cash-collecting jobs. [Sun-Times]

Victims of Ventra II

Despite the giddy “Ventra is here!” tweets, lots of us Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus users have complained that our new cards haven’t arrived yet. Don’t worry — they’re in the mail, CTA says. [RedEye]

Gun control, schmun control

In a busy day for the City Council that included a roast of former Ald. Dick Mell, aldermen also approved contradictory gun requirements to comply with — and undermine — the state’s new concealed-carry law. [Sun-Times]

Litterbugs beware

Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) agreed to significantly soften an anti-littering crackdown, but motorists could still face hefty fines — a maximum of $1,500. [Voices]

Pizza poll

According to a reader poll, Giordano’s (46 percent of the vote) offers the best pizza in Chicago. Surely the cheese casserole maker got a boost thanks to its 20 area locations. Pequod’s never stood a chance. [Huffington Post]

Riotous reunions

Previewing this weekend’s Riot Fest at Humboldt Park, which is playing the nostalgia card with the Replacements and Joan Jett performing. [Reader]

CTA crime-tracker

New searchable maps by DePaul students allow you to track crime on CTA trains and platforms. [Red Line Project]

The Bright One

Legislators’ foot dragging on same-sex marriage has life and death consequences, Mark Brown writes. [Sun-Times]

Commute

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

And finally

The COO of Harold’s Chicken Shack will be a contestant on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” [Voices]