Today's most viewed

1

Pope to resign Feb. 28, says he’s too infirm
Declaring that he lacks the strength to do his job, Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday he will resign Feb. 28 — becoming the first pontiff to step down in 600 years. His decision sets the stage for a mid-March conclave to elect a new leader for a Catholic Church in deep turmoil.
2

Fittest Loser challenge starts for 6 Daily Herald readers
The focus has shifted for six Daily Herald readers, from looking back on a lifelong struggle with weight to looking ahead to a new way of life. The 2013 Fittest Loser Challenge kicks off this month and today you'll meet the three men and three women who were chosen from more than a hundred applicants to compete in the 12-week weight-loss journey.
3

Bartlett teacher Lana Brozik calls herself a lifelong learner
Lana Brozik is a master teacher, a model educator and a lifelong learner. She teaches students English and language arts at Eastview Middle School in Bartlett but reaches beyond her eighth-graders to improve the quality of education districtwide. A ripple effect from Brozik's mentorship means she will continue to affect student learning long after she retires at the end of this year.
4

40-inch catfish caught at Chain O’ Lakes Ice Fishin’ Derby
The talk of this year's Chain O’ Lakes Ice Fishin’ Derby and Winter Festival was the 40-inch catfish caught Sunday by an Ingleside family. Despite the rain and warm temperatures, hundreds of ice fishermen, from as far away as Canada and Germany, were able to fish near Channel Lake in Antioch.
5

Hawks win in Nashville to close out 4-0-2 road trip
The daunting part of the Blackhawks' schedule is over and who could have predicted this? After playing 10 of their first 12 games on the road, the Hawks will return to the United Center on Tuesday still without a loss in regulation after beating Nashville 3-0 on Sunday night. That closed a six-game road trip at 4-0-2 and left the Hawks a stunning 10-0-2 for the season.
6

A look at the green cars at the Chicago Auto Show
It's easy being green if you read our experts guide to alternate vehicles at the Chicago Auto Show. There are a lot of ways to save money on gas and save the planet, from diesel turbo charged vehicles to hybrids with tax credits to some luxurious electric cars. Thankfully, I've got Chicago Area Clean Cities Vice Chair John Walton to offer some analysis.
7

Mumford & Sons, fun. win big at Grammys
Mumford & Sons wrapped up a completely unpredictable Grammy Awards with perhaps the most surprising win of the night, taking home album of the year for “Babel.” “We figured we weren't going to win anything because The Black Keys have been sweeping up all day, rightfully so,” Marcus Mumford said.
8

Palatine music store owner’s dying wish to be honored
For John Giovannoni, co-owner of The Music Room in downtown Palatine, a dying request has become a reason to celebrate. “His request before he passed away was that he didn’t want a service or a memorial or a funeral or any of that, but he wanted a party,” said Lindsey Lindstrom, a former employee who is organizing the party. The party celebrating Giovannoni’s life will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, at The Music Room, 26 N. Brockway in Palatine.
9

Naperville double-murder suspect must provide DNA
Double-murder suspect Elzbieta Plackowska of Naperville has been ordered to provide hair and saliva samples for DNA comparison. Prosecutors want to test the samples against evidence found at the Naperville home where Plackowska's 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old girl left in her care were stabbed to death in October.
10

FHA’s new mortgage fees will pack a bite
If you want to buy a house with minimal cash by using an FHA-insured mortgage, here's some sobering news: Thanks to an ongoing series of fee increases and underwriting tweaks — the most recent of which were announced Jan. 31 — FHA is getting steadily more expensive, and may not work for you.
11

Goofy brothers get serious about fighting cancer
Brothers Tom and Bill Latourette have been competitive since they were kids. So when the suburban dads took to the golf course to raise a few bucks for a friend with cancer, they vowed to raise more the next year. A dozen years and nearly $400,000 later, they're pushing to raise more through the wackiest fundraiser ever.
12

'Ashes to Go' idea expands internationally
Episcopal church leaders across the suburbs, the nation, and even the world on Wednesday will help commuters at train stations mark the beginning of Lent with a visible symbol of human mortality — ashes, via a movement called Ashes to Go. "Churches in the Chicago area have made a real effort to invite other people to do this," said the Rev. Emily Mellott of Calvary Episcopal Church in Lombard.
13

Images: Grammy Awards show
It was a Grammy Awards show with surprising wins and some unconventional pairings during the performances.
14

Images: “Nemo” Blizzard hammers East Coast
The 2013 "Nemo" blizzard hammers the East Coast, dumping inches of snow in the double digits, causing power outages and grounding thousands of flights across Northeast. 38 inches of snow has been reported in Milford, Connecticut with 2 feet measured in other states.
15

Tax increase questions on several DuPage ballots
Voters in several DuPage County communities will weigh in this spring on an array of ballot questions from governmental entities, including five that are seeking more tax money.
16

Feds: Des Plaines woman arranged sham marriages for noncitizens
A Des Plaines woman who runs an Arlington Heights-based immigration consulting business faces federal charges alleging she helped arrange at least four sham marriages to help clients evade immigration laws, authorities announced today. Teresita Zarrabian, 60, is charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, visa fraud and obstruction of justice in an indictment unsealed following her arrest Thursday.
17

Getting hands-on with science at Fermilab open house
Thousands learned more about Fermilab and science during a family open house Sunday. The premier United States lab for particle physics research opens its doors annually to give families a chance to watch experiments and learn about them, talk to scientists and tour parts of the facility.
18

Prospect gymnast finds 'place that fits' despite challenges
Jill Sevilla won't be competing for Prospect High School when the girls gymnastics state championships open Friday, but she's already a winner. Jill, who has Down syndrome, has been on the junior varsity team this season, and event competed in a match earlier in the year. “The girls that are less experienced pick an event to focus on, and Jill picked floor routine,” says her coach, Sara Koshelev. “We worked with her to improve her jumps and some tumbling passes.”
19

One person airlifted from N. Aurora crash
One person is in critical condition after a crash in North Aurora that shut down Route 25 for several hours on Sunday afternoon, officials said.
20

Political rifts re-emerge in Bensenville mayoral race
Four years after a bitter Bensenville mayoral election resulted in the defeat of a 24-year incumbent, the political divisions in town appear to be just as strong. Village President Frank Soto says Bensenville has come a long way since he unseated John Geils. But his two challengers say that progress isn't coming fast enough.
21

Dawn Patrol: 1 hurt in N. Aurora crash; Mt. Prospect ex-trustee was 104
One hurt in North Aurora crash; former Mount Prospect Trustee Theodore J. Wattenberg dies at 104; dance competition in Batavia; Hawks win again; images from the Grammy awards.
22

Slain teen's mom Schneider’s guest for State of Union
The mother of a slain Chicago teen who has quickly become the face of gun violence will be a suburban congressman’s guest to the State of the Union address Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
23

Popular Harper College teacher shared his passion for art
A popular art teacher at Harper College, who helped build up its printmaking studio and left a lasting impression on his students, has died. William Wimmer spent nearly 40 years sharing his passion for art, and more specifically for printmaking, with students of all ages.
24

Suburban Catholics support Pope’s decision, pray for the future
Surprised more than sad, many suburban Catholics expressed admiration and understanding for Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign for health reasons, and now look toward the church's future with a little uncertainty but mostly hope. "It must have been a tremendous sacrifice for the Holy Father. I'm grateful for everything he's done for us," said Bishop David J. Malloy, whose diocese covers an 11-county region including Kane and McHenry counties.
25

Island Lake records detail activists' financial ties
A Daily Herald examination of Island Lake village records reveals details of the financial relationship between village hall and the two activists who successfully pushed to get mayoral hopeful Charles Amrich knocked off April's ballot. In 2012, two companies owned by Daniel Field billed the town for nearly $59,000 in services, while former trustee Louis Sharp's towing company handled more than 200 tows for the police department.
26

Images: Grammy Awards arrivals
Celebrities began rolling down the red carpet in the early Sunday afternoon, but it remained to be seen if any would try to skirt CBS's mandate that stars dress appropriately with sensitive areas covered adequately.
27

Hoffman Estates teen charged in home invasion, sex assault
A Cook County judge set bail at $100,000 for a Hoffman Estates teen charged with assaulting a woman in her residence early Wednesday. Stephen Delgado, of the 600 block of Bode Circle, was charged with home invasion and criminal sexual assault after police say a woman was awakened about 1 a.m. Feb. 6 to an intruder in her residence.
28

Focus turns to baseball, bringing Carlin to mind
The transition from winter toward spring and football toward baseball is an annual reminder of the late George Carlin's humorously insightful comparison of the two sports. Nobody articulated more insightfully the differences between the men’s men and the boys of summer, between body counts and pitch counts, between football players playing injured and baseball players not always playing hurt.
29

Palatine group helps to get WWII prayer book home
At the height of World War II in 1944, 11-year-old Claude Juin found a small, battered prayer book belonging to an American soldier on a coastal road near his small village in France. Now 70 years later, Juin and members of Palatine Sister Cities Association are close to returning the book to its rightful owners.
30

Affection for 1969 Pontiac GTO grew over time
For some, this shared love of automobiles comes naturally, while others require a bit more time to rev up. Jerry Bertram's wife falls in the latter category when it comes to the Palatine couple's 1969 Pontiac GTO.
31

Illinois upsets another Big Ten foe
Tyler Griffey capped a terrific week for Illinois with 16 points, and the Fighting Illini went 11 for 23 from 3-point range in a 57-53 win over No. 18 Minnesota on Sunday night. Three days after Griffey’s buzzer-beating layup gave Illinois (17-8, 4-7) a 74-72 victory over No. 1 Indiana, Tracy Abrams swished a step-back 3-pointer with 18 seconds left to stretch the lead over Minnesota to four. Abrams came off the bench for the first time this season after failing to score against the Hoosiers.
32

Third graders at Oak Grove School follow business plan to feed kids in Haiti
A third grade class at Oak Grove School in Green Oaks formed a company to raise funds for hungry children in Haiti. Their effort raised abouit $700 and earned a visit of thanks Monday from the CEO of Feed My Starving Children. "Kids provide a significant amount of the volunteering and support," CEO Mark Crea said. "It's kids feeding kids."
33

19-year-old charged with Hoffman Estates home invasion
A 19-year-old man was arrested Friday for invading a Hoffman Estates home on the block where he lived, police said. Stephen Delgado was charged with home invasion and criminal sexual assault.
34

Carpentersville fire chief retires
Longtime Carpentersville Fire Chief John Schuldt, who had been on paid leave for nearly two weeks, resigned from the department and announced his retirement Friday, Village Manager J. Mark Rooney said. Schuldt, 53, had been with the fire department for almost 33 years and its chief since 1996. “I cannot entertain what's in the man's mind to retire,” Rooney said.
35

LinkedIn more complicated, but potentially more effective
LinkedIn may be more complicated, but it's potentially more effective according to a local business owner interviewed by Small Business Columnist Jim Kendall.
36

Kotowski a central player in gun debate
Before being elected to the state Senate, Democrat Dan Kotowski of Park Ridge was a visible player in the emotional debate over guns in Illinois. Kotowski worked for six years as the executive director for the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, making him one of the state’s top gun control lobbyists. Now, as both sides are set to clash on the issue in 2013, Kotowski could have a key role in that debate.
37

Allstate’s Gregoire works to help others
Kukec's People features Buffalo Grove's Maryse Gregoire, who has worked for Allstate for 39 years and recently won the Outstanding Employee Volunteer of the Year award with her community work.
38

Marriages should transform over time
Our Ken Potts says healthy marriages are like the old Transformers toys. The basic building blocks of a marriage remain the same over a lifetime, he says, but they can be rearranged in our marriages in all sorts of new and exciting ways.
39

Supporters hit the lanes to help West Chicago-area boy
Dozens turned out for a bowling fundraiser Sunday that will help a West Chicago-area family with medical expenses for 6-year-old Owen Payton, who's waiting for a heart-transplant operation.
40

Don’t expect much Chicago drama in spring training
Cubs pitchers and catchers reported to spring training on Sunday, with White Sox pitchers and catchers due in on Tuesday. Baseball season is closing in, and the Daily Herald is here to help guide you through the spring.
41

Is All-Star Game in jeopardy for Noah?
The state of the Bulls could be summarized in part Sunday by a couple of practice court accessories. Two stationary bikes sat next to the practice court at the Berto Center. One was for Joakim Noah, who is trying to play through plantar fasciitis. Another was for Kirk Hinrich, sidelined by a sore right elbow. Marco Belinelli also skipped practice to rest a sprained ankle.
42

Shutout win puts Blackhawks at 10-0-2
Marcus Kruger and Jonathan Toews each scored 66 seconds apart in the second period, and the Blackhawks remained the NHL’s lone undefeated team in regulation by beating the Nashville Predators 3-0 Sunday night.
43

Images: The Week in Pictures
This edition of The Week in Pictures features a dads and daughters dance, kids science projects, and cold and snowy weather.
44

Dist. 220 board,teachers reach three-year deal
The Barrington Unit District 220 board of education and teachers union have reached a tentative agreement on a three-year teachers' contract, avoiding a potential strike later this month, officials announced Wednesday. The agreement, formally announced in a joint statement on the district's website, barrington220.org, came after a negotiating session that began at 5 p.m. Tuesday and wrapped up about midnight Wednesday.
45

Editorial: Yes to school shooting drills, no to mandate
Drills that would prepare students for a possible school shooting are a good idea, but Gov. Pat Quinn's proposal to require them goes too far, a Daily Herald editorial says.
46

Images: Pope Benedict XVI retires
Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he will resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals Monday morning.
47

Former Mt. Prospect trustee dies at age 104
Former Mt. Prospect trustee and River Trails Dist. 26 school board member Theodore J. "Ted" Wattenberg died Saturday at age 104.“He would stand on his principles,” said his daughter, Margaret.
48

Weekend in Review: Maine West abuse, horse neglect investigation
What you may have missed over the weekend: DCFS places former Maine West coaches on abuse registry; horse abuse investigated at Danada; Mumford & Sons win coveted Grammy Award; Blackhawks end road trip with shutout; 'Supercrocs' coming to Elgin; Joakim Noah may be in doubt for All-Star; Thibs preaches patience on Rose; and an Arlington Heights man develops app for fending off attackers.
49

“SuperCrocs” coming to Elgin library
An exhibit featuring enormous 40-foot crocodiles that lived 110 million years ago is headed in early May to Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin. The Grand Victoria Foundation gave the library a $25,000 grant and another $25,000 challenge grant, for which the library is seeking matching donations.
50

Neighbors might not recognize 'Biggest Loser' contestant
Danni Allen can go around the suburbs incognito because she already looks different than she does on the NBC television show "The Biggest Loser." While the reality series is halfway to its live finale in March, all the other episodes were pre-shot, and the contestants are all back in their real lives.