Chicago's most viral headlines of 2024
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.
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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.
A North Aurora woman is already counting down to 2041 because she can't wait for the drone of the 17-year cicadas to fill her front yard once again.
Bettina Sailer is already counting down to 2041 because she can't wait for the drone of the 17-year cicadas to fill her front yard once again. CBS 2's Noel Brennan reports.
The periodical cicadas that have blanketed parts of the American Midwest this spring are strange creatures, but they have nothing on some of their superfans. Cicada "superfans" from making an extended field day (or, rather, field month) with the twin emergence.
The "Bug Bites" event was inspired by the 17-year periodical cicada emergence across the Chicago area this spring and summer.
While there were no cicadas, a tostada with grasshoppers was among the items on the menu at the Bug Bites dinner at Big Star West Town.
Field Museum collections assistant Jim Louderman tells CBS 2 all about the bugs that could be observed, and even eaten, at Big Star West Town Tuesday night -- as well as why people should enjoy their time with the 17-year cicada this year.
Cicadas were not to be on the menu, but other insect-based dishes were, at Big Star West Town.
Veterinarians emphasize it's rare for a cicada-eating issue to turn into an emergency for pets. But with vets seeing such issues across the Chicago area nonetheless, experts have some advice.
Veterinarians emphasize it’s rare for a cicada-eating issue to turn into an emergency for pets. But with vets seeing such issues across the Chicago area nonetheless, experts have some advice. CBS 2's Tara Molina reports.
Christen Jeschke wrote the book to soothe her children, who were terrified by the onslaught of cicadas on the East Coast in 2021.
The growing noise of cicadas might give you a headache, or just become white noise, but for some people living with special needs the sound can be extremely disruptive.
While Ravinia says the summertime insect is no problem, those living near the venue in Highland Park are already sick of their ear-piercing mating calls.
While Ravinia says the summertime insect is no problem, those living near the venue in Highland Park are already sick of their ear-piercing mating calls. CBS 2's Jermont Terry reports.
Periodical cicadas used to reliably emerge every 13 or 17 years — but spring arriving sooner interferes with the bugs' internal alarm clocks.
From a big congratulations to Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy High School graduate Livia Brown to a cicada who just wanted to hang out. Here's what caught Suzanne Le Mignot and Mary Kay Kleist's eye this week.
They posted a graphic on Facebook stacking cicadas up with a bunch of other noisemakers.
Each was decorated by local artists and business owners.
Twenty-five hand-painted plaster cicadas now line the streets in Glen Ellyn. All perched on planters, benches, and other spots. Each was decorated by local artists and business owners.
CBS 2’s Ed Curran is tracking the noise, and says it is 76 decibels where he is – similar to a vacuum cleaner.
Ricardo Aguilar caught some in his granddaughter's backyard in Glenwood, and Elizabeth Gilewicz of Riverwood shared a helpful tip to keep the insects from climbing high on trees.
Scientists at the Field Museum will study its DNA to figure out why a tiny number of cicadas have blue or white eyes.
"It's a taste you won't find anywhere else, and it's only available once every 17 years!" Noon Whistle Brewing said.
Blue-eyed cicadas are genetic mutations that rarely occur.
Extremely-rare blue-eyed cicada was found in Wheaton. Now, it will be on display at the Field Museum as part of its rare collections, and the local family that discovered it talks about their fantastic find.
The Illinois State Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year that calls for only a minimal increase in K-12 education spending, a reflection of the state's tightening fiscal condition.
There is a new push in northwest suburban Arlington Heights to keep the Chicago Bears in the state and get their new stadium built on the property they purchased in 2023.
A teen is being held on charges after a 17-year-old was shot and killed after leaving school on January 8 in west suburban Cicero, Illinois.
A man was stabbed during an attempted robbery in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood early Friday morning.
A quick round of snow is expected Friday morning with most areas picking up less than an inch of accumulation.
The ICE agent involved in the fatal shooting could try to invoke immunity under the Constitution's Supremacy Clause to try to end state criminal prosecution.
President Trump threatened Thursday to invoke the Insurrection Act to quell anti-ICE protests in Minnesota. He previously threatened to do so in Chicago, but never followed through.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Machado previously said she wanted to "share" the prize for removing Nicolás Maduro from power.
The Trump administration reversed cuts to grants for mental health and addiction treatment programs that a CBS News source said were valued at around $1.9 billion.
In 2023, life expectancy in the Loop was 87.3 years, while in West Garfield Park, life expectancy was just 66.6 years, according to the city's Health Department.
Police in the west Chicago suburb of Geneva are warning of a scam involving spoofed phone numbers.
Protesters on Tuesday were cranking up the heat on Peoples Gas over a recently proposed rate hike that would add an additional $10 to $11 a month to utility bills.
A lawsuit filed late last month took Chicago-based McDonald's to task over the McRib sandwich, calling its name a form of false advertising.
As this holiday season nears its end, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias issued a warning Tuesday about text scams.
A new report shines a light on electricity shortages that Illinois could face in less than 10 years.
Roughly 1.4 million fewer Americans have signed up for an Affordable Care Act plan as expiring tax breaks drive up premiums.
January is Radon Action Month, and the Cook County Department of Public Health is urging residents to test their homes for radon.
Severe flu season is sending many people to hospital emergency rooms across the country, including in the Chicago area.
Unionized health care workers this week took aim at Northwestern Medicine, saying the health care system needs to hire more people before expanding the emergency room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Tuesday that its recommendations for childhood vaccines will not be affected by a change in federal guidelines.
United Airlines flight attendants picketed outside Chicago's Willis Tower Thursday morning as they fought for a new contract.
WSCR-AM, 670 The Score, will begin a simulcast on 104.3 FM next month.
Does the Chicago Bears' dramatic improvement this season, culminating in their first playoff run in five years, change the discussion about where they will build a new stadium?
The Piggery, a popular barbecue restaurant and bar in the northwest corner of Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, announced Thursday that it is going out of business.
The Lincolnwood Town Center mall in the north Chicago suburb of Lincolnwood has been sold to a developer, the village announced Wednesday.
Scott Adams, the cartoonist who created the "Dilbert" comic strip, has died at the age of 68, his first ex-wife revealed on Tuesday.
Here is everything you need to know about how to watch and stream the 2026 Golden Globes.
Bob Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Grateful Dead classics including "Sugar Magnolia," "One More Saturday Night" and "Mexicali Blues."
Chicago Theatre Week brings value-priced tickets for shows from Feb. 5 until Feb. 15 at Chicago's stage venues. Tickets can sell for $30, $15, or even less.
Isiah Whitlock Jr. is perhaps best known for his role as state Sen. R. Clayton "Clay" Davis on HBO's "The Wire."
Take an inside look at the 2026 Cubs Convention.
Calling all Bears fans! The Ramova Theatre is hosting a giant watch party Sunday and Jackie Kostek is getting an sneak peek.
There is a new push in northwest suburban Arlington Heights to keep the Chicago Bears in the state and get their new stadium built on the property they purchased in 2023.
The Illinois State Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year that calls for only a minimal increase in K-12 education spending, a reflection of the state’s tightening fiscal condition.
A teen is being held on charges after a 17-year-old was shot and killed leaving school on January 8 in west suburban Cicero, Illinois.
A teen is being held on charges after a 17-year-old was shot and killed after leaving school on January 8 in west suburban Cicero, Illinois.
More than a year after a woman was found dead at the bottom of a Chicago condo building stairwell, her ex-husband is expected in court on Friday.
There is a new push in northwest suburban Arlington Heights to keep the Chicago Bears in the state and get their new stadium built on the property they purchased in 2023.
The Illinois State Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year that calls for only a minimal increase in K-12 education spending, a reflection of the state's tightening fiscal condition.
A man was stabbed during an attempted robbery in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood early Friday morning.
Lead-based paint was banned for serious health reasons in 1978, but most homes built before then remain covered in it.
Fire department officials in Chicago's western suburbs said drone technology has been helping keep firefighters safe and make a major impact on public safety.
With the stores becoming a common target for thieves, some of the stores in the Chicago area are taking new steps to fight back.
As thousands of people are expected downtown for New Year's Eve celebrations, Mayor Johnson, the Chicago police, and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications are trying to get out ahead of any safety concerns.
Cameras not working, video evidence missed by police and a psychic that leads a hit and run victim's son to a clue that changes the case
There is a new push in northwest suburban Arlington Heights to keep the Chicago Bears in the state and get their new stadium built on the property they purchased in 2023.
Mikael Backlund and Yegor Sharangovich each had a goal and an assist as the Calgary Flames beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1.
The Bears will welcome the Rams to Soldier Field on Sunday with temperatures in the teens and wind chills in the single digits.
After signing the third-richest contract in Chicago Cubs history and changing his jersey number to No. 3, third baseman Alex Bregman said his biggest priorities are his family and winning a third World Series championship.
The Bears will have backups in a couple of key spots on both sides of the ball on Sunday when they take on the Rams on Sunday, but other than that, it's a relatively clean playoff injury report.
Chicago police have issued a community alert on a string of burglaries this week targeting businesses from the north lakefront to the Southwest Side.
Burglars broke into a bar in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood early Thursday morning.
A teen stood charged Thursday with shooting a young woman in the mouth in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood earlier this week.
A man is dead, and two others were injured after a shooting in Chicago's Morgan Park neighborhood.
Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that they have charged a registered nurse to giving counterfeit Ozempic to patients in Chicago.
