The Evening Rush for Friday, Jan. 3, 2014

Rich Hein/Sun-Times

Rahm Emanuel’s yo-yo year

2013 saw high points and low points for the mayor. He closed about 50 schools only to go on a school-building spree, sealed a deal to renovate Wrigley Field with nothing to show for it, pulled the plug on the privatization of Midway Airport and pulled off a five-month closing of the CTA’s Red Line only to get tripped up by a botched Ventra rollout. [Sun-Times]

CPS tech coordinator steals $400K

Then fled to Mexico, where he was found dead. [Sun-Times]

-20 temps coming Monday

What did we do to deserve this? [Sun-Times]

Cyclists brave the snow

“It’s a lot of fun,” claims one rider. [DNAinfo Chicago]

Pets and subzero weather

When they gotta go, they gotta go. Here’s how to keep them safe. [Redeye Chicago]

Chicago Left’s answer to Rahm?

The Chicago Left is looking for its own Bill de Blasio to run for mayor in 2015. [Voices]

The marijuana experiment

Cities and states around the country are watching very carefully how legal recreational marijuana will pan out in Colorado and Washington. [Rolling Stone]

Homeless refuse shelters over bedbugs

Two homeless men in Wicker Park would rather sleep outside than risk going to a shelter infested with bedbugs. [DNAinfo Chicago]

The cutest Jan. 1 baby . . .

… is this seal pup born at Brookfield Zoo. With bonus video! [Sun-Times]

Emporium Arcade Bar expanding

Game on, Logan Square! [Voices]

Q101 is back

Rejoice, alt rock fans! [Robert Feder]

The Bright One

Mark Potash says Jay Cutler’s contract makes sense for the Bears. [Sun-Times]

Commute

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