Weekend in Review: Teen trapped in machinery; Oscar winners

Gire, suburbanites celebrate Oscar in Wheaton

Though Daily Herald Film Critic Dann Gire called this year's Academy Award nominee field one of the “tightest, toughest” he's ever seen, it turned out pretty much the way he thought it would. That includes his prediction that “12 Years a Slave” would win Best Picture over eight other films. “Each one could have won during a regular year,” Gire said at an Oscar party Sunday night in Wheaton. “But '12 Years a Slave' was absolutely horrifying, courageous. Full story.

35 years later, lead still rears its toxic head

Federal law banned lead in paint 35 years ago, but the toxin still threatens children today. Lead paint poisoning is among the top preventable health risks in the area, and in Illinois as a whole. “Over the years, a lot of property owners have just simply painted over the lead,” said Sarosh Saher, a senior planner with Elgin. “It's not until someone comes in for a major rehab that the lead hazard is discovered and opened up.” Full story.

17-year-old trapped in machinery at Algonquin snowboarding park

A 17-year-old employee was injured Sunday afternoon when his arm became tangled up in the machinery that operates a ski lift at the Raging Buffalo Snowboard and Ski Park in Algonquin.

Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District responded to the park at 19N475 Route 31 at 1:46 p.m. after a co-worker discovered the teen entrapped in the conveyor lift, officials said. John Greene, the Algonquin Fire Department battalion chief, said more than 30 rescuers worked for about an hour to remove the young man who was then airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Full story.

Girls go gaga for Vine video boys at Itasca meet and greet

As the entertainment world focuses on tonight's Academy Awards, gaggles of screaming girls insist that the real screen stars are at MAGCON in Itasca, where teenage boys famous for their six-second Vine videos mingle with a select few of their 20 million adoring fans. After all, more people have used their cellphones to watch 15-year-old Nash Grier's short clip of himself holding a kitten than have seen best-picture Oscar nominee “Dallas Buyers Club” in a theater. “It's a phenomenon,” says 38-year-old MAGCON founder Bart Bordelon. Full story.

Gurnee woman charged in anti-religion vandalism

A Gurnee woman who told police she is “angry with religion” has been arrested and charged with vandalizing 21 houses of worship in Lake County during a six-day spree. Full story.

Elgin gives preliminary approval to charter school lease

Members of the Elgin City Council gave preliminary approval to leasing property to a proposed new charter school over the objection of a councilman who claimed there is a conflict of interest. Councilman John Prigge cast the only dissenting vote at Saturday's special committee of the whole meeting to leasing the former Fox River Country Day school at 1600 Dundee Ave. to Elgin Academy and the new Elgin Charter School Initiative. Full story.

Singers shine at Hersey High School competition

Buffalo Grove High School won the top title as grand champion at the weekend's 21st annual Chicagoland Showcase show choir competition featuring more than 30 middle school and high school show choirs from throughout the Midwest — and even as far away as California. Full story.

Hawks fans revel in outdoor game's atmosphere

It was perfect Penguin weather, but it was all Blackhawks Saturday night at Soldier Field. And besides the Hawks, Saturday's winners were the more than 60,000 fans who sat through dense, swirling snow and a temperature of 17 degrees at puck drop to see Chicago sports history in the making. Full story.

Unlike many suburbs, Buffalo Grove has plenty of salt

Buffalo Grove's public works director told the village board this week there is enough salt to get through the remainder of a rough winter. Michael J. Reynolds said the village has used just under 3,000 tons of salt, up 46 percent from last year and 114 percent more than two years ago. Full story.

Suburban Ukrainians worried about Russia

Members of the suburban Ukrainian community said Sunday they are sad, angry and fearful about the escalating political and military tensions between the Ukraine and Russia.

“I cry,” said Mary Jaresko, a Ukrainian immigrant who attends St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Bloomingdale. “For days I have cried about this. Americans need to know what's going on there.” Russian forces seized Ukraine's Crimean peninsula over the weekend, igniting fears across Europe and North America that war could break out between Russia and Ukraine. Full story.

World & Nation

World scrambles as Russia tightens grip on Crimea. Full story.

What you need to know about March health deadline. Full story.

China: Train station attack an act of terrorism. Full story.

Murder trial of Oscar Pistorius starts today. Full story.

Municipal budgets in deep over potholes. Full story.

Healthy food sold at Walmart vs. Whole Foods. Full story.

Why Netflix is beating HBO. Full story.

Why it's more fun to binge watch old shows than new shows. Full story.

Oscars are good to '12 Years a Slave,' 'Gravity.' Full story. Photos here and here

Fallon takes the polar plunge in Chicago. Full story.

'Non-stop' is the No. 1 movie in the country. Full story.

Sports

Hawks' No. 2 line work in progress again. Full story.

Hawks' Toews: We had a blast out there. Full story.

Hawks in in 'best setting you could ever want.' Full story.

No stopping Bulls' Joakim Noah. Full story.

Cubs starters should be respectable but for how long? Full story.

Sox' Sale undisputed ace of strong staff. Full story.