Chicago News Stories for Sep 20 2011

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

• Man convicted of injuring police officer
  A Kane County jury convicted an Elk Grove Village man Tuesday on charges he hit a police officer with his car after a chase ending at the Elgin Toll Plaza.
• Public transit advocates protest proposed federal cuts
  Public transit advocates rallied today in Chicago against proposed federal funding cuts they say would severely compound the impact of possible service reductions and fare increases being considered by the CTA and Metra for next year.
• Biden raises at least half a million dollars for Obama re-election
  Vice President Joseph Biden is collecting at least $500,000 from two fundraisers being held in Chicago today for the re-election of hometown President Barack Obama, sources familiar with the events said.
• Woman charged with stealing $400 worth of Rogaine
  An entire shelf at a Downers Grove pharmacy lay barren after a woman bolted out the front door with the store’s entire stock of Rogaine hair loss treatment, police said.
• Prosecutors: After shooting of Chicago cop suspects went to party
  A South Side man seeking to avenge an earlier shooting killed Chicago police Officer Alejandro “Alex” Valadez in a “volley” of bullets, then drove to a friend’s house where he partied with his buddies, prosecutors told jurors today as his trial opened.
• 2 Marines killed in helicopter crash from Illinois
  The two pilots killed in the crash of a Marine attack helicopter during training at Camp Pendleton were from Illinois, military officials said today.

• Carimi’s Knee Slightly Less Mangled than Originally Thought
  
  The rookie right tackle might have only a dislocated his knee cap, not his entire knee.
  
  
• Alvarez: Man "Started to Party" After Shooting Cop
  
  Litigating her first trial as Cook County State’s Attorney, Anita Alvarez said alleged gunman Shawn Gaston celebrated with friends after shooting and killing Officer Alejandro “Alex” Valadez in June 2009.
  
  
• Cop’s Gun Not Used to Kill Teen: Officials
  
  The gun used to kill a 19-year-old Portage, Ind., girl over the weekend did not belong to the father of the teen now accused in the crime, officials said Tuesday.
  
  
• Chicago Gourmet : Sicilian Lamb Meatballs with Caponata
  
  Chef Tony Priolo of Piccolo Sogno gives us Camille Parker a taste of what he’ll be serving at this year’s Chicago Gourmet!
  
  
• Matt Forte Needs More Balance
  
  The Bears running back chuckles when asked if the offense needs to change.
  
  
• Season Preview: Ben Smith
  
  Sizing up the Blackhawks’ fire hydrant.
  
  

• 4 Maywood Residents Claim Village Blocking Records Requests
  Last spring, in a chance meeting, Maywood village trustee candidate Cheryl Ealey asked Village Clerk Gary Woll why the village was dragging its feet on the release of a number of documents sought by those challenging the administration. Ealey claims that Woll told her that the village “won’t give you information to use against us.”
• Benedictine Offering Free Tuition To Long-Term Unemployed
  In these days of high unemployment, a suburban university is giving the jobless a second chance. CBS 2′s Vince Gerasole reports on the college that’s giving free tuition to the long-term unemployed.
• Teachers At Brown Discuss Approval Of Longer School Day
  Chicago Public School teachers were speaking out for the first time on Tuesday about the difficult decision to vote for a longer school day. So far, teachers at 12 public schools have agreed to extend the school day by 90 minutes.
• NBA, Union To Meet Wednesday Without Top Negotiators
  A person with knowledge of the plans says staffs from the NBA and players’ association will meet Wednesday, without top negotiators from either side.
• Holmes’ Mailbag: When Will Cutler Get Some Help?
  Questions have been pouring in since the Bears lost to New Orleans Sunday. Let’s see what’s on tap in this week’s mailbag.
• Police: Two Credible Leads In Doctor’s Disappearance
  Police in northwest Indiana say they are pursuing two credible leads in the disappearance six of a 70-year-old ophthalmologist six months ago.

• Castro’s daughter shares experiences at ECC
  Alina Fernandez, the estranged daughter of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, speaks to the community at Elgin Community College on Tuesday, Setp. 20.
• Hotel liquidation brins out bargain hunters
  Coffee pots, beds, telephones, lamps – all of this and more is on sale at the old Sheraton Chicago Northwest hotel in Arlington Heights. The hotel, closed since 2009, is selling off everything in a liquidation sale as village leaders consider a proposal to convert the building into a luxury apartment complex.
• State treasurer defends brochure sent with state funds
  Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford is defending his decision to use state funds to pay for a brochure that went largely to campaign contributors and other supporters of the Republican Party.The 11-page brochure touted successes in Rutherford’s first six months as treasurer and cited newspaper editorials that supported his calls for a freeze of state spending and an end to borrowing.
• Arlington Hts. flood relief might be in budget
  Arlington Heights flood victims should keep their eyes on the capital improvement budget that the village board will discuss in October, Village Manager Bill Dixon said Monday night, as residents continue to press the village for solutions.
• Mixed verdict in I-90 chase that ended in shooting
  After 2½ hours of deliberations, a Kane County jury found an Elk Grove Village man not guilty of attempted murder of a police officer after leading Chicago police on a chase in summer 2009 that ended after he was shot at an Elgin toll plaza. However, Andrzej Wojtkielewicz, 23, of the 800 block of Tennessee Lane, was convicted on a second charge of aggravated battery of a police officer.