Chicago News Stories for Feb 19 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

• 3 shot, 1 dead, on South and Northwest sides
  Three people were shot, one fatally, across Chicago on Saturday night.
• Emanuel mounting challenge to census showing dip of 200K Chicago residents
  Mayor Rahm Emanuel is mounting a challenge to 2010 U.S. Census estimates that Chicago lost about 200,000 residents.
• Activists end sit-in at Piccolo school
  Community activists and parents at Brian Piccolo Elementary Specialty School in West Humboldt Park ended an overnight campus sit-in Saturday staged to protest a proposed shake-up of faculty and administrators.
• Detectives warn of South, Southwest Side robbers
  Police detectives issued alerts today regarding at least three strings of robberies on the Southwest and South sides.
• George: Government impinging on religious freedoms regarding contraception
  Cardinal Francis George weighed in on the controversy over contraceptives in the nation’s health care law earlier today, saying that he was “a little bit dismayed” with President Barack Obama and the regulation that requires religiously affiliated hospitals and institutions to provide birth control to female employees.
• Officers save man who tried to rescue dog from Belmont Harbor
  Several police officers braved two-foot waves to save a man who floundered after jumping into Lake Michigan at Belmont Harbor this afternoon to try to save his dog, police said.

• Police: Crew Robbing Green Line Riders
  
  Police are looking for a group of men committing strong-arm robberies on the CTA Green Line on the South Side.
  
  
• Celebrate South Side Irish Parade Early
  
  Those anxious for the return of the South Side Irish Parade can get a little preview Saturday night to tide them over until the proposed March 11, date is finalized.
  
  
• Chicago News Cooperative to Shut Down
  
  The Chicago News Cooperative (CNC), a non-profit news organization focused on providing in-depth coverage on all things Chicago, will suspend its service.
  
  
• Brunch In Ohio
  
  Hawks end terrible trip in Columbus
  
  
• Whitney Houston on "Tonight Show" (1999)
  
  In this archive clip from Jan. 13, 1999, singer Whitney Houston appears alongside Jay Leno. Clip provided courtesy of “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”
  
  
• Stolen Spring Grove Horses Found
  
  A nationwide hunt for horse thieves who stole four horses from a McHenry County stable is over.
  
  

• Lack Backstops Wolves to 1-0 Shootout Win Over Charlotte
  After the Chicago Wolves and Charlotte Checkers battled through 65 minutes of scoreless hockey, the Wolves grabbed the extra point in the shootout to earn a 1-0 win Saturday night at the Allstate Arena.
• Loyola Beats Bradley 56-44
  Ben Averkamp had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead Loyola of Chicago to a 56-44 win at Bradley Saturday night.
• Cardinal Criticizes Obama’s Contraception Mandate
  Francis Cardinal George is back from Italy and talking about something he’s very concerned about: President Obama’s mandate for employers to cover health care costs, including birth control.
• Illinois-Chicago Turns Back Eastern Illinois 67-63
  Gary Talton scored 20 points Saturday night to lead Illinois-Chicago to its first road victory of the season with a 67-63 win over Eastern Illinois.
• Northwestern Topples Minnesota 64-53
  John Shurna set the all-time Northwestern scoring record as he collected 18 points in a 64-53 Big Ten victory over Minnesota on Saturday night.
• Mickelson Takes Wild Ride Into Share Of The Lead
  One shot clipped an ash tree and kept Phil Mickelson out of worse trouble than he was in. Another landed behind a Bottle Brush, blocking his path to the 10th green at Riviera. On yet another hole, Mickelson had to thread a 9-iron through the limbs of five eucalyptus trees.

• Houston’s voice soars at NJ hometown funeral
  The best voices of a generation all paid tribute to her. But in the end, the most powerful voice at Whitney Houston’s funeral was her own. The first notes of “I Will Always Love You,” at the end of a 3 ½-hour remembrance of the pop superstar, played as her casket left her hometown church.
• No excuses: Bulls look bad in loss to Nets
  The New Jersey Nets walked into the United Center with an eight-game losing streak, but stunned every onlooker at the start of the game by taking a 22-3 lead. The Bulls never mounted a serious comeback and suffered a disappointing 97-85 loss, playing again without Derrick Rose.
• Blackhawks make it 2 wins in a row
  The Blackhwaks are back home feeling a lot better about themselves after salvaging the final two games on their mostly nightmarish trip. The Hawks followed up their big win in New York on Thursday by thumping the Blue Jackets 6-1 on Saturday at Nationwide Arena. “It’s huge to snap that losing streak, but to come back with a win like we did today, I’d say it was even bigger,” Jonathan…
• Spring Grove horses safely back in stables
  Four horses Claudia Haugh believes were stolen from her Spring Grove farm early Friday morning are now safely back in their stables. Haugh said she’s grateful for their return, but added the story should serve as a warning to other horse owners that a “savvy” thief may be on the prowl.
• Long-awaited Hanover Park police headquarters open
  Hanover Park Police Department’s 99 employees are used to working in a 36-year-old building meant to accommodate just 40 people. They’ll finally move into a 53,000-square-foot, $15 million facility, which officially opened Saturday with a dedication event. “We’re a progressive police department, and now we finally have a modern facility to reflect that,” Police Chief David Webb said.

• Lack Backstops Wolves to 1-0 Shootout Win Over Charlotte
  After the Chicago Wolves and Charlotte Checkers battled through 65 minutes of scoreless hockey, the Wolves grabbed the extra point in the shootout to earn a 1-0 win Saturday night at the Allstate Arena.
• Loyola Beats Bradley 56-44
  Ben Averkamp had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead Loyola of Chicago to a 56-44 win at Bradley Saturday night.
• Cardinal Criticizes Obama’s Contraception Mandate
  Francis Cardinal George is back from Italy and talking about something he’s very concerned about: President Obama’s mandate for employers to cover health care costs, including birth control.
• Illinois-Chicago Turns Back Eastern Illinois 67-63
  Gary Talton scored 20 points Saturday night to lead Illinois-Chicago to its first road victory of the season with a 67-63 win over Eastern Illinois.
• Northwestern Topples Minnesota 64-53
  John Shurna set the all-time Northwestern scoring record as he collected 18 points in a 64-53 Big Ten victory over Minnesota on Saturday night.
• Mickelson Takes Wild Ride Into Share Of The Lead
  One shot clipped an ash tree and kept Phil Mickelson out of worse trouble than he was in. Another landed behind a Bottle Brush, blocking his path to the 10th green at Riviera. On yet another hole, Mickelson had to thread a 9-iron through the limbs of five eucalyptus trees.