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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.
Don Archer helped police catch the thief in less than 24 hours.
The Bears' defense hopes to make life miserable for Minnesota QB Sam Darnold this coming Sunday.
The video released by COPA Thursday shows Officer Fernando Ruiz jump out of his squad car and immediately start shooting.
The organization used cash donations to buy 20,000 coats from suppliers earlier this year, but they have already handed those out to their different partners.
Little Penelope Lo Destro's parents were about to start their family when there was a terrible diagnosis.
President-elect Donald Trump announced Gaetz as his nominee to be attorney general last week.
The reopened Pilsen facility is one of three that Mayor Brandon Johnson promised would reopen by the end of the year.
Anthony Finch has filed suit against the village and Mayor Derrick Burgess for wrongful termination. Now, four trustees want to bring Finch back to the village—but this time working as an auditor.
Judicial regulators have filed a complaint against a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice who spread election conspiracy theories and was hired by Republicans to lead an investigation into President-elect Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 election, accusing him of violating multiple rules of conduct.
"Some of the steps and measures that are being taken, these are some individuals that are having tantrums right now. It's time to grow up. The people of Chicago don't have time for that," Johnson said.
So far, despite several requests, the woman has not been able to get a hold of her medical records to send to her new doctors.
Those in the industry who spoke to CBS News Chicago said their margins are already so slim that an increased liquor tax could drive business owners to close their doors.
Robin McElroy said she loves everything about her Morgan Park home—except for the panic-inducing surprises she has been getting in the mail about her supposedly unpaid taxes.
Scammers often get financial information and personal details, or lure in veterans with videos that claim they can win lots of money,
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.
Little Penelope Lo Destro's parents were about to start their family when there was a terrible diagnosis.
Lattes and other espresso-based drinks may not be available at some McDonald's restaurants due to a glitch with coffee machines.
The FDA sent a warning letter flagging "significant violations" of manufacturing regulations for Tom's of Maine toothpaste.
The 65-year-old actor and stand-up comedian, best known for portraying Joey Gladstone on "Full House," said he first noticed symptoms in October.
An attorney representing a conservative prosecutor struggled Monday to convince Wisconsin's liberal-leaning Supreme Court to reactivate the state's 175-year-old abortion ban.
Owner Ricky Burns made a big dream come true in the tiny space on Western Avenue in West Ridge.
Those in the industry who spoke to CBS News Chicago said their margins are already so slim that an increased liquor tax could drive business owners to close their doors.
The nonprofit Far South Community Development Corporation is working to create everlasting change—and has a vision specifically for the commercial corridor at 115th and Halsted streets.
Wonder Group, a New York-based food ordering company that touts "fast fine" dining, is set to be Grubhub's new owner.
Foxtrot will be pouring free drip coffee between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. at the Fulton Market location to celebrate the reopening.
Ravyn Lenae, a rising R&B star from the South Side of Chicago, is among the artists announced Wednesday for the popular California desert music festival.
Speaking to American Theatre in 2018, Vire said he arrived in Chicago as a "lapsed actor," and fell into theatre criticism "through the back door."
"America demanded it and now it's happening: Taco Bell's new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I'm hosting the Oscars," Conan O'Brien said.
The IBA also gave out the Silver Dome Awards at its luncheon Wednesday.
The 65-year-old actor and stand-up comedian, best known for portraying Joey Gladstone on "Full House," said he first noticed symptoms in October.
Don Archer of Oak Forest never expected to go to his Ring camera and see an unidentified man swiping a package right off his porch. But as Andrew Ramos reports, that was exactly what happened on Wednesday.
Caleb Williams and company will have their hands full Sunday against a Minnesota Vikings defensive unit that shares the league lead for takeaways. Matt Zahn reports from Halas Hall.
Police are not using the word “chase” to describe what happened before a stolen Jeep hit another vehicle and a bus in the Washington Park neighborhood. Megan Hickey reports.
The video released by COPA Thursday shows Officer Fernando Ruiz jumping out of his squad car and immediately starting shooting. The man in the car whom Ruiz shot, Raymond Comer, 38, is now paralyzed from the waist down.
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled a special prosecutor's decision to re-indict Smollett violated his constitutional rights after Cook County prosecutors previously dropped charges against him. Sabrina Franza reports.
Temperatures rose above freezing areawide Thursday afternoon and will hold steady or even rise further overnight into Friday morning.
The state's highest court ruled a special prosecutor's decision to re-indict Smollett violated his constitutional rights after Cook County prosecutors previously dropped charges against him.
President-elect Donald Trump announced Gaetz as his nominee to be attorney general last week.
Police said a stolen car was speeding when it slammed into another car and a CTA bus.
Don Archer helped police catch the thief in less than 24 hours.
A judge released Constantin Beldie on electronic monitoring in October, after he allegedly beat and tried to kidnap his estranged wife. He's now accused of killing her weeks later.
So far, despite several requests, the woman has not been able to get a hold of her medical records to send to her new doctors.
The police department has spent $22.6 million in overtime this year for officers working special events — only about $2 million of which has been reimbursed to the city.
Indiana is ranked among the states with the weakest gun safety laws, in part because it does not have a law that requires safely storing firearms.
"How is this possible that so many things could have gone wrong and allowed for this to happen?" Candice Gatlin said.
The Bears' defense hopes to make life miserable for Minnesota QB Sam Darnold this coming Sunday.
Will Riley led Illinois (3-1) with 18 points and nine rebounds while Kylan Boswell added 17 and Kasparas Jakucionis had 15.
Zach Lavine scored 27 points to lead Chicago. Torrey Craig added 15, while Nikola Vucevic and Coby White had 14 each.
Morgan went 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 32 appearances last season for the AL Central champion Guardians.
Williams and the Bears offense will try to build off the positives in game one this past weekend with Thomas Brown calling plays.
Don Archer helped police catch the thief in less than 24 hours.
When the girl woke up, the man fled the scene on a rental bicycle, according to police.
Alicia Robles said didn't initially feel the pain because she was still absorbing the situation—and then seconds later, her skin, she said, was on fire.
A judge released Constantin Beldie on electronic monitoring in October, after he allegedly beat and tried to kidnap his estranged wife. He's now accused of killing her weeks later.
Police said the drive-by shooting happened on the 2400 block of South Oakley Avenue around 10:45 a.m.
