March 14: The successor to the resigning Pope Benedict XVI turned out to be the first pope from the Americas and the first to take the name Francis, after the saint known for helping the poor.
The suburbs suffered terrible spring floods, especially along the Des Plaines and Fox rivers. Bombs go off as the Boston Marathon finishes. The suspects in the bombing are chased in a frantic manhunt, and then they’re finally stopped. The suburbs wait for the rising rivers to recede. And a Texas factory suffers a deadly explosion.
That was just one week in 2013’s Daily Herald front-page news.
But there was more. Like the Chicago Blackhawks again winning the Stanley Cup.
Winning the final series was huge news around here, but it didn’t happen before a thrilling Game 1 that took three overtimes for the Blackhawks to finally beat the Boston Bruins right at midnight. We squeezed news of that win into all our editions.
Other news that we found worthy of taking up most of our front page included the ordination of a new pope, the state legislature’s approval of same-sex marriage, that legislature’s passing of pension reform, and the death of Nelson Mandela.
April 16: Bombs at the Boston Marathon shocked the world. Five were killed, several others were maimed, and the manhunt for the suspects began.
April 17: The search is on as the damage the Boston Marathon bombings caused sinks in. Suburban runners vow to keep going in the Chicago Marathon and future Boston Marathons.
April 18: As police and the FBI chased down two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing, a Texas factory exploded, with dozens feared killed. Meanwhile, spring rains were drenching the suburbs. This all in one day in a busy news week.
April 19: Lake County residents suffered from floods particularly along the Des Plaines River, such as in Gurnee.
April 19: DuPage County suffered flooding that forced rescues and the closing of the county government center.
April 19: Kane County residents especially along the Fox River suffered flooding once again from spring rains.
April 19: Northwest suburban homeowners particularly along the Des Plaines River lost belongings, if not homes altogether.
April 19: Tri-Cities residents faced the rising Fox River after spring April rains.
April 20: The rains in the suburbs ended and residents began dealing with the aftermath, while Boston felt some relief with the manhunt of the Boston Marathon suspects ending.
June 13: Game 1 of the Blackhawks Stanley Cup series went into three overtimes and lasted until midnight, prompting this headline on our Sports front page.
June 25: It wasnt looking like wed be making our Blackhawks Stanley Cup poster front the way Game 6 was looking, but suddenly we had to put it together when the Hawks scored their game-winning 2 goals in 17 seconds.
June 25: The Blackhawks were losing Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, but then they scored 2 goals in 17 seconds to shock everyone and win the whole thing.
Nov. 21: Illinois became the 16th state to legalize same-sex marriage. Couples from the suburbs were among those celebrating in Chicago.
Dec. 4: Pension reform legislation suddenly came together and passed the General Assembly, though the law cutting benefits will face court challenges.
Dec. 6: South African civil rights leader Nelson Mandela passed the same day Gov. Pat Quinn signed the long-sought pension reform legislation in Illinois.