Chicago News Stories for Feb 01 2012

Hot off the presses go 2 Chicago brings you the latest breaking Chicago News Stories to hit the internet. We make a point of updating today’s headlines at least twice a day so make sure to check back for all your Chicago News Headlines

• 5 arrested for scrawling graffiti on Navy Pier Ferris Wheel
  Five students who attend a Southwest Side career training program were arrested after defacing the Ferris wheel on Navy Pier while riding it Tuesday afternoon, police said.
• Red Line service restored after rail damage
  Service on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line trains has been switched back to its familiar subway tunnels late Tuesday after a damaged third rail in the South Loop led to a re-route on elevated tracks.
• Congress-seekers disclose campaign cash
  A rundown of which candidates raked in what for Illinois’ 2012 races
  
  Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson began the new year with a slight cash advantage in her Democratic primary challenge to Rep.Jesse Jackson Jr., federal campaign disclosure reports showed Tuesday.
• Metra changes ticket policies in addition to fare hikes
  New expiration, refund practices in effect
  
  With Metra’s biggest-ever fare hikes taking effect Wednesday, some riders may be wondering, “What about that old 10-ride ticket I have in my wallet?”
• Jurors to resume deliberating Mario Casciaro murder case Wednesday
  A McHenry County Circuit Court judge has sent the jurors deliberating the first-degree murder charges against Mario Casciaro home for the evening. Judge Sharon Prather denied a defense request to sequester the panel, reminding its members not to discuss the trial.
• 10 hurt, including 4 firefighters when engine crashes with car
  Authorities were trying to figure out why a car that was initially stopped near an intersecton started moving again and was struck by a fire engine hustling through an intersection to get to a fire alarm call this evening in the West Pullman neighborhood.

• Crews Begin Razing Building That Partially Collapsed
  
  Four pedestrians received minor injuries when part of building at 79th and Halsted streets came down.
  
  
• Car, Fire Truck Crash Injures Nine
  
  Four firefighters have less severe injuries after crash near 128th and Halsted.
  
  
• Complaints Against Florists Up 47% in 2011
  
  BBB offers advice for safe and successful Valentine’s Day shopping.
  
  
• McDonald’s: No More Pink Slime in Burgers
  
  Food additive, deemed safe by the USDA, is used to kill bacteria.
  
  
• First Courts to Get Cameras Chosen
  
  The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday chose a judicial district on the Iowa border to experiment with cameras in courtrooms because media there already have experience with the practice.
  
  
• Officials: Summits Will Produce Results
  
  Deputy National Security advisor Ben Rhodes and Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, the White House’s Senior Director for European Affairs, came to Illinois Tuesday to brief consular officials and the city’s own host…
  
  

• Walter’s Perspective: PAC Money The Big Winner In The Election
  We’ve been hearing it all night: the winner of the GOP primary election in Florida is the winner is Mitt Romney. Or so it is in the news, but I don’t buy it.
• Adele To Sing At Grammy Awards, 1st Performance Since Vocal Cord Surgery
  Grammy nominee Adele will make her much-anticipated return to the stage for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, nearly five months since having surgery on her vocal cords.
• No. 19 Wisconsin Beats Penn State 52-46
  Jordan Taylor scored 18 points, including a key 3-pointer from the top of key with 1:44 left, to help No. 19 Wisconsin hold off Penn State 52-46 on Tuesday night for its sixth straight victory.
• Illini Upset No. 9 Michigan State, 42-41
  Brandon Paul shook off a poor-shooting game to score 18 points, including two free throws with 45 seconds left that gave Illinois the lead in a 42-41 victory over No. 9 Michigan State on Tuesday night.
• Red Line Trains Rerouted After Reports Of Smoke In Subway
  Red Line trains were rerouted Tuesday night after unfounded reports of subway smoke in the South Loop.
• Pfizer Birth Control Recall
  Pfizer Inc. is recalling 1 million packets of birth control pills after uncovering a packaging error that could leave women with an inadequate dose of the hormone-based drugs and raise the risk that they will get pregnant accidentally.

• Romney wins big in Florida, routing Gingrich
  Mitt Romney routed Newt Gingrich in the Florida primary Tuesday night, rebounding smartly from an earlier defeat and taking a major step toward the Republican presidential nomination. Gingrich vowed to press on despite the one-sided setback. Romney, talking unity like a nominee, said he was ready to take the Republican helm and “lead this party and our nation.”
• Workers hospitalized after Wheeling gas leak
  Thirteen workers at a Wheeling manufacturing plant were hospitalized Tuesday after an apparent carbon monoxide leak left dangerous levels of the poisonous gas inside the facility.
• Metra fares spike as new capital shortfall looms
  Metra CEO Alex Clifford talks about the agency’s future on the eve of a major fare increase — and warns that there are more serious financial challenges ahead.
• Bald eagles return to the Fox Valley
  Bald eagles that created quite a stir in the Fox Valley last year are back again. Visitors to the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin noticed them Tuesday morning, the first day they stuck around long enough to have their pictures taken.
• Elgin Artspace project chugging along
  The building that once housed Elgin Community College classes and before that Sears department store in downtown Elgin is well on its way to becoming apartment and studio space for artists. The project, a partnership between Minneapolis-based Artspace and the city of Elgin, is supposed to wrap up in October with 55 rental units to be ready for individuals and families by the end of the year.

• Walter’s Perspective: PAC Money The Big Winner In The Election
  We’ve been hearing it all night: the winner of the GOP primary election in Florida is the winner is Mitt Romney. Or so it is in the news, but I don’t buy it.
• Adele To Sing At Grammy Awards, 1st Performance Since Vocal Cord Surgery
  Grammy nominee Adele will make her much-anticipated return to the stage for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, nearly five months since having surgery on her vocal cords.
• No. 19 Wisconsin Beats Penn State 52-46
  Jordan Taylor scored 18 points, including a key 3-pointer from the top of key with 1:44 left, to help No. 19 Wisconsin hold off Penn State 52-46 on Tuesday night for its sixth straight victory.
• Illini Upset No. 9 Michigan State, 42-41
  Brandon Paul shook off a poor-shooting game to score 18 points, including two free throws with 45 seconds left that gave Illinois the lead in a 42-41 victory over No. 9 Michigan State on Tuesday night.
• Red Line Trains Rerouted After Reports Of Smoke In Subway
  Red Line trains were rerouted Tuesday night after unfounded reports of subway smoke in the South Loop.
• Pfizer Birth Control Recall
  Pfizer Inc. is recalling 1 million packets of birth control pills after uncovering a packaging error that could leave women with an inadequate dose of the hormone-based drugs and raise the risk that they will get pregnant accidentally.