Sen. Charles Schumer (left), accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (center) and Senate Senate Budget Committee Chair Sen. Patty Murray, points to a countdown clock during a news conference on Capitol Hill on Monday, after the Democratic-led Senate rejected conditions that House Republicans attached to a temporary spending bill. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Shutdown showdown
It’s the final countdown until the next federal government crisis countdown. With just a few hours remaining until the government shuts down, both sides seem to be in a staring contest to see who will blink first. But the joke’s on them, because we’re still talking about the “Breaking Bad” finale, and both teams on Monday Night Football are undefeated, so good luck getting America at large to care. Still, it’s important, or so I’m told, so we’ll have live coverage from our Chicago newsroom, as well as Lynn Sweet in D.C. and other sources as we close in on the zero hour. [Sun-Times, Lynn Sweet]
Runaway train
An apparent runaway train — no, seriously — crashed into another CTA train at the Harlem Blue Line stop, injuring at least 33 people, all of them suffering minor injuries. [Sun-Times]
He gone
So long, Dale. It was real. Next up: Girardi in Cubbie Blue again? [Sun-Times]
Profitable
The mayor says the Taste is — finally — profitable again. [ABC 7]
Prosecuting lead
State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez is taking a rare lead position in the prosecution of the alleged killers of Chicago cop Alejandro “Alex” Valadez. [Sun-Times]
No-go on Clinton doc
CNN has deep-sixed its planned Hillary Clinton documentary. [N.Y. Times]
Crackdown
Among those stopped in a distracted-driving crackdown was a man stopped while shaving. [Sun-Times]
Summiting
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Obama to talk about Israel, Iran and peace, in general, in the Middle East. [WaPo]
RIP
RIP Keo, Lincoln Park’s first chimp and the oldest male chimp in North America, was euthanized. [DNA Info]
Breaking Bad
Farewell, “Breaking Bad,” with record numbers and a great last script for Aaron Paul (spoiler alerts ahoy). [Sun-Times, Slate]
Bears down
10 observations from the Bears-Lions post-mortem. [Sun-Times]
The Bright One
The Watchdogs look into accusations of sexual harrassment at the RTA that involve a Mike Madigan son-in-law. [Sun-Times]
Commute
Sudoku; Weather; Traffic; CTA; Metra; Flight delays
And finally
Space dinosaur? Space dinosaur. [Space.com]
