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Eligible homeowners and business owners would be able to have their water bills lowered if they can prove their higher bill is the result of leak in the underground service line.
David Steele got the $5,000 refund he'd been wanting for months, but didn't get an explanation why the city suddenly changed its mind.
Glenn Jones can't sell the vacant house until he figures out the water bill issue with the city.
Through our "Getting Hosed" series on bad water bills, we have found that often communication issues between different city systems have often been the source of the headaches.
Even after David Steele won the first round in his dispute over his bogus water bill, the city figured out a way to hose him again.
The Chicago City Council Finance Committee held a hearing Tuesday with the heads of the Water Management and Finance departments.
A week-by-week log of meter readings showed zero water usage on some entries. Other times, the report came back at 6 million gallons used in a week.
The family knew they had unpaid water charges to settle before selling their three-flat in Roseland, but nothing like the amount they got.
The circumstances vary from case to case, of course, but in short, the pattern involves Chicagoans getting socked with bills for water they didn't use.
"You've got people walking around on fixed income and they can't afford to pay a $500 bill," Burns said. "I would like to see mistakes corrected and I would like to see communication. There's no communication!"
"It's just nuts to me that we have this issue that continues to be reported, on and the city departments are not doing anything about it," Villegas said.
Numerous people whose stories we've reported over the past four years have been getting hosed by bogus bills - often rising into the tens of thousands of dollars.
This did not happen until the CBS 2 Investigators got involved.
Connie Abels has been waiting five years for her hearing.
The homeowner was just being an honest guy and alerted the Chicago Department of Water Management to his unusually low bill.
"The issue with being a city employee is we are obligated to pay any city obligation," said paramedic Lisa Beard.
In Chicago when you die, ComEd shuts off your electricity, and Peoples Gas shuts off your gas. But the city does not stop your water.
Illinois' lead pipe situation is the worst in the country.
Yasser Almanaseer said he has had no luck in getting it fixed.
How does a City of Chicago water bill for $70 turn into a $10,000 tab from one bill to the next?
Getting Hosed, our exposé on Chicago's bad water billing, has saved consumers hundreds of thousands of dollars. So we wanted to know - what happens if you take on the City yourself?
"They told me to hire a good lawyer, that this is probably a billing issue with the city."
Aldermen voted against Ald. Daniel La Spata's proposal for helping low-income residents with water bills, while a competing proposal from Mayor Lori Lightfoot remains bottled up in a separate committee.
Hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans with unmetered accounts pay inflated bills – and you can't get a meter for a fair bill until you get a non-lead service line.
Rodney Andrews — a Vietnam Veteran, a Chicago cabbie, and our main protagonist — was among those "Getting Hosed" by the City until we fixed his water bill. Then, out of the blue, the City had his garage bulldozed.
It's the season of giving, but if you're not careful with finances, you could be getting a hefty bill at the end of the holiday season.
Bowman passed away Monday at the age of 96.
The driver did stop after the crash.
Blue skies return as temperatures moderate into the upper 50s.
The woman was taken to Christ Hospital in critical condition.
Organizers of the protest said the current administration was warned of a Trump win if the War in Gaza persisted and U.S. funding to Israel continued.
Last month, Henyard announced she is running for another term as mayor of Dolton.
Despite a major push from the Chicago Teachers Union, there is a true split on the new elected board. But with Mayor Brandon Johnson still appointing some of the board members.
CBS News polling showed that 45% of voters said their financial situation was worse today than it was four years ago.
Trump won a larger share of the Illinois vote in 2024 than in 2020 or 2016, reflecting a national trend in his third run for the White House.
It's the season of giving, but if you're not careful with finances, you could be getting a hefty bill at the end of the holiday season.
For the first time since 1938, children in Des Moines, Iowa, will go trick-or-treating on Halloween. The city began its unusual custom of opting for Beggar's Night decades ago in hopes of tamping down on hooliganism.
According to the Citizens Utility Board, it will cost another $12.8 billion to complete the project--$5 billion more than previous estimates.
Dozens more lawsuits are expected.
This is part of a massive recall that includes nearly 12 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and chicken.
The "Dawson's Creek" alum shared the news on Sunday and said that despite the diagnosis, there is "reason for optimism, and I'm feeling good."
Three patients at the University of Chicago Medicine are in the trial for the treatment.
Some pathogens that contaminate food are even showing up in the U.S. for the first time thanks to climate change.
McDonald's says Quarter Pounders will be back on the menu at hundreds of its restaurants after testing ruled out beef patties as the source of an E. coli outbreak.
Work in the labs at the IFSH in southwest suburban Bedford Park is centered around learning more about why some food products make people sick.
he facility at 650 W. 51st St., about a block east of Halsted Street, closed last week.
According to a statement on the brewery's website, it is closing its doors at its brewpub at 2323 N. Milwaukee Ave. after struggling to rebound following the pandemic.
The South Side warehouse has more than 200 employees, according to the union that represents 75 members.
Dozens more lawsuits are expected.
Experts raised concerns about people in already underserved communities losing easy access to drug stores.
Quincy Jones, the multi-talented music legend who collaborated with everyone from Michael Jackson to Frank Sinatra, has died at 91, his family announced.
The "Dawson's Creek" alum shared the news on Sunday and said that despite the diagnosis, there is "reason for optimism, and I'm feeling good."
In addition to talking about his work, Bennett will be presenting the award for Best Music Video at the festival.
During six undistinguished seasons in the major leagues, Bob Uecker never played an inning for the Milwaukee Brewers. But during his more than half-century as the team's play-by-play announcer, he has become a mascot for the game.
The lead singer-songwriter for the superstar band Fleetwood Mac who became a superstar solo artist talks about her latest song, "The Lighthouse," that was inspired by her own experience with abortion, and a strong desire to "do something."
The students were a former IDF soldier currently in reserve and one of the executive leaders of the Students Standing with Israel at DePaul.
The work has begun to transition from a Biden-Harris White House to a Trump-Vance administration. For President-elect Donald Trump, the move back into the Oval Office also involves significant legal baggage.
Puppies and yoga… what’s more relaxing? Head to River West with Jackie Kostek.
Consumer experts are predicting holiday spending to be at an all-time high this year, and they say now is the time to start thinking about budgeting.
Williams, known by his artist moniker WAK, is one of the most celebrated figurative storytellers of this era. The Chicago South Side native's collection of paintings is the most widely circulated urban fine art series in the world. His exhibition is on display through Nov. 30 at Connect Gallery.
The shooting happened around 8 p.m. in the 8000 block of South Ingleside Avenue in the East Chatham neighborhood.
Video taken Halloween night shows a group shooting paintballs at random people from inside a car.
The students suffered physical injuries, but declined medical treatment, according to the university.
Organizers of the protest said the current administration was warned of a Trump win if the War in Gaza persisted and U.S. funding to Israel continued.
It's the season of giving, but if you're not careful with finances, you could be getting a hefty bill at the end of the holiday season.
The man city records document as the owner of the alley declined several requests for an interview, but could be seen repeatedly driving a forklift through CBS News Chicago's shot.
Investor interest in South Shore has steadily increased with investors buying single family homes and condos.
The accused killer has a decade-long documented history of attacking law enforcement, inmates, and mental health staff. He was even issued a jail ID card alerting staff of his security threat.
Jackson has been waiting for this specific decision since his release from prison two weeks ago
The skull has been identified as Esther Granger, a 17-year-old girl who died in Indiana, in 1866.
The Bulls played their second consecutive game without leading scorer Zach LaVine, who has a right adductor strain.
Telly Johnson Jr. ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns.
Nick Foligno scored for the 'Hawks. Petr Mrazek finished with 21 saves.
The star Chicago Bears rookie and his star receiver hope to get in sync as they host the New England Patriots this week.
Williams took over the Flames after three years in the Utah Jazz front office.
Video taken Halloween night shows a group shooting paintballs at random people from inside a car.
Richard Allen is accused of the 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German.
Two employees of Levy Restaurants were shot and killed in an administrative office in the loading dock area at Navy Pier on Tuesday afternoon.
The victim crashed into a parked vehicle outside Laura Ward Elementary School, and was found with multiple gunshot wounds.
As of late Tuesday, police were still seeking a person of interest. Belmont Area detectives remained at the scene investigating.
