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The river flows 13 miles (21 kilometers) through Gary, East Chicago and Hammond. Steelmaking, meatpacking and oil refining contaminated the river's sediment with heavy metals and PCBs as well as oil and grease.
The man who asked repeatedly for a state investigation into the Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook was remembered Saturday at a vigil in Elmhurst.
In 2016, over 1,000 people were forced from the West Calumet Housing Complex after tests found high lead levels in blood samples from some children and some yards with lead levels over 70 times the U.S. safety standard.
Topping the list is a $1.5 million grant to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
The Illinois EPA is now letting you download reports on your local water system, so you can look at the number of lead service lines.
The EPA estimates that Illinois has 3.7 million water lines. Of those, about 415,000 are made of lead. About 319,000 are made of copper and potentially contain lead solder.
A new report from the state health department revealed a higher than normal number of cases of several cancer types for people living near the Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook.
Sterigenics released the following statement Friday regarding the Illinois Department of Public Health's cancer incidence report.
He battled cancer and fought to get the word out about a dangerous chemical coming from a plant near his home. Matt Haller lost his fight against cancer, but before he died, he wanted to share a message with CBS 2's Dave Savini.
Sterigenics and the EPA released the following statements after the EPA performed air quality tests after the Sterigenics plant was ordered to stop using ethylene oxide.
"People who get exposed to it, they can get cancer at high enough levels."
Calling this an urgent health crisis, Senator Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth on Tuesday demanded the EPA find a third-party environmental engineering firm to identify a way to reduce emissions.
Numerous levels of government -- from mayor to state lawmaker to members of Congress -- on Friday demanded the EPA immediately take action against the Willowbrook sterilization company.
From the yard signs to their rallying cries, for months some Willowbrook residents have taken aim at Sterigenics, a medical device sterilization company that emits ethylene oxide into the air -- a known cancer-causing chemical.
Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order Wednesday to make Illinois the 18th member of the U.S. Climate Alliance.
Congress passed a bill Friday that will give workers affected by the government shutdown back pay when the shutdown ends. President Trump says he'll sign it.
On day five of the federal government's partial shutdown, around 420,000 essential federal employees are still working without pay and many are not at all happy about it.
In a letter, the Western Springs president asks Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan for an immediate, temporary shutdown of the facility.
The East Chicago Calumet Coalition Community Advisory Group says many residents didn't have a chance to speak at a November 29 hearing due to a time limit and the cleanup plan's complicated nature.
The company cited a recent EPA test, which didn't detect cancer-causing ethylene oxide emissions in the air near homes, schools and parks.
Metra says it's adding to its aging fleet, but the previously Amtrak-owned locomotives that Metra bought this year are ranked the lowest of the low by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Illinois is receiving $108 million from Volkswagen's multibillion-dollar settlement after allegations that the automaker sold 60,000 vehicles with software designed to cheat air-quality tests.
Wednesday, the EPA announced that the testing process for the dangerous drug is flawed and another gas can sometimes be mistaken for ethylene oxide.
"Raise it a dollar and nobody would've complained about it. I see greed written all over it."
Exposure to even low levels of lead can permanently damage a child's developing brain, affecting their IQ, ability to pay attention and academic achievement.
Jaime Reyes, 70, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child and one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
A spokesperson for the refinery said crews responded and identified and isolated the leak
Lynwood-based Ray & Wally's Towing said the heavy-duty wrecker was operated by one of its drivers, who died at the scene.
After sexually assaulting the woman, the man stole some of her belongings, and fled through the back door.
Schererville police said an officer working an extra-duty assignment at the Up Your Alley bowling alley in the 1000 block of Indianapolis Boulevard was alerted to a large group of individuals causing a disturbance inside after being asked to leave by management.
Here's a look at some of the biggest stories to make headlines in 2024, including Mayor Brandon Johnson's clashes with the City Council to the end of the more than five-year-long Jussie Smollett saga.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez accused school board members of "hijacking" negotiations and trying to intimidate his team.
Martinez's lawyer says he is asking a judge to guarantee that no one can stand in the way of Martinez doing his job while he is still in office.
The report came out Monday morning, just hours after a last-ditch effort by Gaetz to keep it under wraps.
A report by the House Ethics Committee found former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid multiple women, including a 17-year-old girl, for sex.
At Yorktown Center in Lombard, just about everyone who spoke with CBS News Chicago on Monday said the act of going out and physically shopping puts them in the Christmas spirit.
Scammers know many of us are waiting for packages this holiday season.
The National Retail Foundation projected roughly 157 million people across the country would shop last-minute and try to wrap up their shopping lists.
The strike was deliberately authorized in the midst of the busy holiday delivery season nationwide for a reason—with the Teamsters Union pushing the company for a contract.
The oysters were sold as Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi.
Some 13 oz. bags of Lay's Classic Potato Chips may contain an undeclared allergen, according to the snack company.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced Wednesday that it had detected presumptive positive human case of H5N1 in Barron County.
The sisters share a special bond of getting a second chance at life, which they both received at the age of 38 years old.
An even larger investment of $500 million is going toward 10 new outpatient facilities throughout the South Side that will add 85,000 health care appointments each year.
Scientists used the NanoGripper to grab particles from the SARS-CoV2 virus that causes COVID-19.
It may seem like a brave choice to launch a company making old-fashioned mechanical watches—when many wear new-fangled electronic alternatives. But the entrepreneurs' mission is bigger than just watchmaking.
At Yorktown Center in Lombard, just about everyone who spoke with CBS News Chicago on Monday said the act of going out and physically shopping puts them in the Christmas spirit.
Sunday night marked the last night in business for Strat's, after 38 years.
The National Retail Foundation projected roughly 157 million people across the country would shop last-minute and try to wrap up their shopping lists.
Baristas at the store at 5964 N. Ridge Ave. in Edgewater have been on strike since Friday calling for higher wages and better staffing.
Taylor also played two nights at Ravinia this past June.
Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut announced the nominations for the 82nd annual Golden Globes, with 10 nominees revealed live on CBS News.
The lawsuit alleges the unidentified girl was raped at a Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000.
Social media sleuths noticed that the house next door to the iconic "Home Alone" house in Winnetka is now up for sale.
Here are the top songs, artists, and albums streamed on Spotify in Chicago this year, according to communications agency Burson Global.
Temps for Thursday will be in the middle 40s. Conditions remain brisk and drizzly this evening in the 40s for the Bears game against the Seahawks.
Every year, people in the U.S. throw away billions of pounds of used clothes and fabric. California is taking a landmark step to change that.
Five Palestinian journalists were killed in an Israeli strike outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight.
United Flight 202 left Chicago's O'Hare Airport the morning of Dec. 24, and the body was discovered upon landing at Hawaii's Kahului Airport. There is no information yet about the person's identity.
The airline says the issues began Thursday morning and also led to long delays for both domestic and international flights.
Chicago police said officers responded to a battery in progress where a man, 45, was attacking a woman, 40, inside the home.
A body was found in the wheel well of United Airlines Flight 202, which left Chicago for Hawaii on Dec. 24, the airline said.
Jaime Reyes, 70, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child and one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
Here's a look at some of the biggest stories to make headlines in 2024, including Mayor Brandon Johnson's clashes with the City Council to the end of the more than five-year-long Jussie Smollett saga.
Insects emerged from the ground, the moon eclipsed the sun, a purse full of cereal was spotted and Chicago fell in love with a rodent-shaped hole.
"San Antonio has really led the way in using aerial surveillance technology to prevent these activities," said Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), who chairs the City Council Public Safety Committee.
Customers said contractors from the company, Orange Elephant Roofing & Solar, seemed simply to disappear into thin air. But that is only the tip of the iceberg.
Survivors, advocates and experts have weighed in on Mayor Brandon Johnson's pledge to create a task force to study the safety of Black women in Chicago.
The Chicago-based company is accused of tricking diners about delivery fees, misleading drivers about pay, and listing restaurants on its platform without permission.
Now-retired Joliet police Sgt. Javier Esqueda was charged in connection with leaking squad car video of a man who died in Joliet police custody.
The Ramblers (9-4) were led by Miles Rubin, who posted 16 points and three blocks.
Jason Dickinson scored for the 'Hawks with 33 seconds left, but the Blackhawks were unable to come up with the tying goal.
Nikola Vucevic had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulls.
Jalen Quinn led the way for the Ramblers (9-3) with 17 points and two steals.
George Dimopoulos, who played quarterback in high school, also converted the two-point conversion when he passed it to quarterback Josh Holst for his second completion of the season.
After sexually assaulting the woman, the man stole some of her belongings, and fled through the back door.
Here's a look at some of the biggest stories to make headlines in 2024, including Mayor Brandon Johnson's clashes with the City Council to the end of the more than five-year-long Jussie Smollett saga.
Jason Samhan claims the same pair is stealing from several other homes in Oak Lawn.
The medics were not armed, and they did not know if the robber had a gun. Nevertheless, they managed to flip the script with their bare hands.
Shots were fired from inside a Nissan Altima.
