Northwest Indiana residents wants EPA to clean toxic coal ash

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The state hopes $74 million will keep part of the Illinois shoreline from washing away.Chopper 2 got this look at the snow-covered sand at Illinois Beach State Parkwhere rising water levels have been eroding the shoreline.The Department of Natural Resources is allocating $74 million to build underwater reefs as well as offshore ridges to protect the shoreline from waves and currents.

CHICAGO (CBS)-- An Opioid Response CARE Team is coming to the West Side. The new opioid response team will focus on Chicagoans who call 9-1-1 for substance use or overdose emergencies.Starting this spring, they will work in East and West Garfield Park and Humboldt Park.Those are the Chicago neighborhoods with the largest number of opioid-related 9-1-1 calls.

CHICAGO (CBS) -- At least a dozen renters in Chicago's South Deering neighborhood are without heat, with some claiming it's been a month. As temperatures drop into the single digits, CBS 2's Shardaa Gray spoke with residents who said they're fed up."Somebody needs to fix this problem."Frustrated and upset, this renter, who doesn't want his face shown or name revealed, said he's been without heat for nearly a month."I called them, and they told us that they were going to get on it. That's been since December," said the renter. "We're almost in February and still dealing with this issue."Trumbull...

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A body was pulled from Lake Michigan Saturday morning. According to the Chicago Police Department, the CPD Marine Unit recovered the body of an adult man from the lake near the 1100 block of South Lakeshore Drive just after 11 a.m.Detectives are conducting a death investigation, pending autopsy results. No further information was immediately available. 

CHICAGO (CBS)-- Help is coming to residents impacted by last week's deadly high rise fire in Kenwood.Several organizations are hosting Tuesday's disaster relief event at the Premier Urgent Car and Occupational Health Center on East 27th Street. Volunteers will be there to show families the resources they can get utilize. You can go from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.In the fire last week, one woman died in the blaze that left more than 100 units displaced.

CHICAGO (CBS) – An electrician for the Chicago Transit Authority was awarded $99,000 after he said he was harassed at work.In one instance, a noose was hung in a building where he was working.Lasona McKinney said it all started in October of 2018, when he spoke out about his foreman, whom he accused of racially discriminating against him.McKinney said the foreman and other co-workers harassed him for years as retaliation. A federal jury handed down the verdict awarding the $99,000 on Friday.

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A cold water rescue in the northwest suburbs.The Wauconda Fire Department safely rescued a deer stuck in the icy Fox River over the weekend. They pulled her out of the water, warmed her up with blankets and hot packs.In case you were wondering, they named her "Jan."

WHEATON, Ill. (CBS) -- DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick has now had a change of heart when it comes to the new Illinois assault weapons ban. After a conversation with the DuPage County Board and State's Attorney, Mendrick now says he is "committed to enforcing state and local laws, including the Protect Illinois Communities Act." A full joint statement from Mendrick and two other officials said: "DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy, Sheriff James Mendrick, and State's Attorney Robert Berlin engaged in a meaningful conversation during which they discussed their shared commitment to the safety of DuPage County residents. The...

CHICAGO (CBS)--  Warming centers are available throughout the city amid dangerously cold conditions. The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services operates six warming centers across the city whenever temperatures drop below freezing. The warming centers are open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Garfield Community Service Center is open 24/7. Englewood Community Service Center1140 West 79th Street, Chicago, IL 60620312-747-0200Garfield Community Service Center10 South Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612312-746-5400Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center4314 South Cottage Grove, Chicago, IL 60653312-747-2300North Area Community Service Center845 West Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640312-744-2580South Chicago Community Service Center8650 South Commercial Avenue, Chicago, IL 60617312-747-0500Trina Davila Community Service Center4312 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639312-744-2014  With frigid weather on the way, the City of Aurora is opening its temporary warming center for one week starting today.The Aurora Transportation Center, located at 233 North Broadway, will be open each night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Feb. 5.Staff and security guards will be on-site at all times to make sure everyone stays safe.

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Parishioners protested outside Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral Sunday to send a message to Cardinal Blase Cupich. They want to keep the building that once housed their beloved church from being sold. A small group chanted and held signs, urging Cupich not to sell Saint Adalbert Catholic Church in Pilsen. The church closed in 2019, but the Saint Adalbert's Rosary Group says the building is architecturally and culturally important to the Polish and Mexican communities it served. "Getting the sale stopped is a smaller goal along the way," said Richard Smaglick, with the group. "The main goal is to reopen this church as a sacred space of some sort, a shrine, a monastary or an active church. We're very hopeful that we can make that happen. Last fall, former congregants protested outside the shuttered church trying in vain to keep the Archdiocese from removing a beloved statue. Protesters say they're also concerned about reports a Florida man could buy the church. They say he has turned other religious buildings into questionable businesses. The Archdiocese acknowledged the group's protests, but did not address their concerns. 

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Plans are moving full speed ahead to open a migrant shelter in what was an abandoned school in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood, and after a community meeting Saturday afternoon, neighbors have a better idea of a timeline for the shelter to open. The city says it is ready to move in migrants as soon as Monday. The school-turned-shelter, once Wadsworth Elementary School and later the University of Chicago Charter School, is ready for migrants. But neighbors say they feel the plan was rushed with little community input. "We were hearing them, but they wasn't hearing us," said one neighbor. At Saturday's session...

CHICAGO (CBS) – This week won't feature the best temperatures for a water main break.A pipe burst overnight Monday in Oak Park near Chicago Avenue and Taylor.Several blocks were closed for cleanup and repairs.The Water Department said crews got everything under control before any significant damage was done.

CHICAGO (CBS) – Wage theft costs Americans more than any other type of theft. The figure nationwide is $50 billion. But, for each person impacted it can be hundreds or even thousands of much-needed dollars. Some people might not even realize they are missing money from their paychecks because sometimes it's just a few dollars here and there.A worker advocacy group, the Chicago Workers Collaborative helped Jose Neri, one Illinois worker whose employer didn't pay him what he was owed.He worked for one week at a home and office cleaning business. He spent that week tidying up a Target store....

CHICAGO (CBS) -- We've told you about the way thieves have been targeting certain models of Kias and Hyundais around Chicago – there were nearly a dozen more such thefts this past weekend alone. Now, the owners of those Kias and Hyundais have another headache to deal with – some major insurers won't take them as customers. Late Monday, State Farm confirmed they are not writing policies for Kia and Hyundai owners in some states. As CBS 2's Sara Machi found out, you might be impacted even if your car is not one of the target models. ...

CHICAGO (CBS/AP) -- The Memphis Police SCORPION Unit, which included the officers behind the deadly beating of Tyre Nichols, was disbanded over the weekend after video of the attack was released.As CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reported, some watchdogs have been asking whether Chicago Police need to take a look at their own specialized units.Watchdogs say the CPD unit most closely resembling the unit in Memphis was disbanded after an investigation led to charges and prison sentences for the Chicago Police officers involved. They say we also need to keep an eye on an active unit called the Community Safety...

CHICAGO (CBS) -- For days, we have been trying to get in touch with someone in charge of the Harper Square Cooperative.The Harper Square Cooperative is composed of two high-rise buildings in Kenwood. In the southernmost high-rise at 4850 S. Lake Park Ave.  on Wednesday, one woman died and nine others were injured in a catastrophic fire.On Friday, CBS 2's Sabrina Franza spoke to the attorney for the management company.We told you Wednesday about multiple failed city inspections at the high-rise. On Friday, the Harper Square representative claimed that even though we found those violations using public data, neither he...

CHICAGO (CBS)-- A break-in was reported at the Canada Goose store on Michigan Avenue. Chicago police responded to a call of criminal property damage at 800 Michigan Avenue Monday morning. Police have not confirmed further details on the incident.  CBS 2 news crews saw shattered windows and coat racks emptied. 

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Hundreds of people will run into the icy waters of Lake Michigan today all to raise money for local families.This year is the 22nd annual Polar Plunge put on by the Chicago Polar Bear Club.Each year the group organizes the event to help local families facing difficult times.Today's plunge is at noon at Oak Street Beach.If you want to stay warm and dry, you can still donate to the cause at chicagopolarbearclub.com.

CHICAGO (CBS) – Chicago firefighters were attacking a smoldering roof of an Englewood apartment building.The fire broke out Monday morning in the two-story building near 74th and Emerald.Flames scorched the first and second floors.The cause of the fire is under investigation.

ELMHURST, Ill.  (CBS) -- Today you can learn "How the World Arrived on Lake Michigan's Shores."The Elmhurst History Museum, located at 120 E Park Ave, is presenting the lecture on Chicago's immigration history at 2 p.m.A professor from the College of DuPage will explain why so many people came here and how waves of immigrants have impacted and shaped the Chicago area.Online reservations are closed but a limited number of walk-ins may be able to sit in.