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The pastor of a Pilsen church says he feels like he's getting hosed - with an $11,000 water bill. And he's not alone.
Over the years, viewers have reached out to the CBS 2 Investigators concerned about the high levels of lead in their drinking water.
For our latest Getting Hosed expose, the CBS 2 Investigators dug into issues with vacant, unmetered properties and the regressive billing policies that lead to inflated water bills.
"I just think that this is municipal property. I can't see it any other way," said Christine Wehrle, who disputes that she should have to pay for the repairs.
The bill for her Southside six-flat is now nearly $60,000 — for water that was never used. In fact, the building has been boarded up and vacant since her last tenant moved out in 2018.
It's Earth Day. Here at CBS 2, we take water seriously: from lakes and rivers to pipes and bills.
Chicago's "Getting Hosed." Again. In our exposé of the City's bad water billing system, we've asked over and over -- why hasn't anything been done to fix it?
For years, the CBS 2 Investigators have exposed baffling gaffes in the bureaucracy that is the Chicago Department of Water Management: big, bad bills. By bad, we mean wrong.
"Getting Hosed" - our exposé into a bungled Chicago Water Department bureaucracy - has won multiple awards. However, it hasn't fixed a broken system. So, we'll keep reporting.
After Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently announced a plan to resume meter installations, we looked into the City program and discovered how ineffective it will be -- especially for one Chicagoan getting hosed.
Camella Batten is retired, she's fought cancer, and she's scared of COVID-19. But her biggest obstacle? The City of Chicago.
"My lawyer called me and said, 'You owe $61,000,'" Hamza Alkamel said. "I was stunned. I'm like, what?"
Over the last year, Chicagoans have reached out to CBS 2 Investigators for help with inexplicable water bills.
Mr. Andrews has witnessed the horrors of war. Yet, he said his fight with the city has been more difficult than the one he survived in Vietnam.
Chicago's water billing system has long baffled customers. Now, the city's inexplicable method for calculating water bills has even stumped CBS 2 Investigators.
Rodney Andrews wants to unpack his boxed-up life. There is just one catch – he's one of the many people getting hosed by Chicago's Water Department.
One woman has a water bill of more than $8,000, even though she hasn't used a drop.
The CBS 2 investigators stay on the water beat. In the latest case, Chicago's water department cut one man's $9.000 water bill in half. Great. Right? Well, not really.
The city's Water Department has a long history of slapping people with wrong bills. This time, it's because the agency was incapable of simple subtraction.
In her 2020 budget, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the new Utility Billing Relief Program for people with outstanding water bills. But it won't help some Chicago water customers who have gotten hosed.
Larry Richardson is one of the people who called CBS 2 Investigators after the first expose on the City's water billing system aired in February. Some owed hundreds of dollars, others tens of thousands.
The City of Chicago is going after residents for millions of dollars, attempting to collect bills for water they never used.
Police believe a disgruntled former co-worker of the victims entered a Navy Pier loading dock and opened fire on Tuesday.
The teens were arrested on Wednesday in the 1100 block of South Hamilton Avenue on the city's Near West Side.
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.
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 percentage of the Illinois vote in 2024 than in 2016 or 2020, 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."
Zelenskyy tweeted about the cooperation following his phone conversation with President-elect Donald Trump. Back in September, Trump said his plan to end the war was to get the presidents of Ukraine and Russia into a room and work out a deal, but he didn't specify how he would achieve that or when.
Ghost is a 2-month-old chihuahua mix who is looking for a forever family to help him with socialization, training, and plenty of exercise.
Darion McMillian, 23, is due for an initial court appearance on Thursday. He has been charged with murder and multiple other felony counts in the shooting that killed Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez in East Chatham this week.
Meteorologist Kylee Miller has the extended forecast.
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 shooting happened around 8 p.m. in the 8000 block of South Ingleside Avenue in the East Chatham neighborhood.
Police believe a disgruntled former co-worker of the victims entered a Navy Pier loading dock and opened fire on Tuesday.
The students suffered physical injuries, but declined medical treatment, according to the university.
Video taken Halloween night shows a group shooting paintballs at random people from inside a car.
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.
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.
Police believe a disgruntled former co-worker of the victims entered a Navy Pier loading dock and opened fire on Tuesday.
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.
