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.
From Kat Abughazaleh to Jason Friedman, some surprising names lead in fundraising in Illinois' primary elections.
Members of the hemp industry in Chicago are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson veto a ban on most intoxicating hemp-derived products.
Facing rising heating bills, customers in northwest Indiana are taking their financial fight right directly to utility company NIPSCO.
Several recent incidents of violence on trains and buses have put CTA safety in the spotlight as the city's mass transit system prepares to expand its AI gun detection technology in the coming weeks.
It appears someone hacked into a Chicago Department of Transportation traffic sign in the Loop to display vulgar messages about President Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
From Kat Abughazaleh to Jason Friedman, some surprising names lead in fundraising in Illinois' primary elections.
Members of the hemp industry in Chicago are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson veto a ban on most intoxicating hemp-derived products.
Three House Democrats from Illinois are leading the 2026 race to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin after he steps down at the end of his term.
Four Democratic-led states that have become frequent targets of President Donald Trump have sued to block his administration from cutting off hundreds of millions in public health grants.
Married since 1998, Iowa couple Spencer and Sinikka Waugh now have his-and-hers campaign yard signs, as he pursues a state House seat and she runs for state Senate.
This week marks Identity Theft Awareness Week, and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza emphasized some safety tips Monday for avoiding and dealing with identity theft.
A controversial data center in Naperville, Illinois, could be the cause to pack a city council meeting there on Tuesday night.
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.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital announced this week that it is planning to open a new pediatric hospital in the west Chicago suburb of Downers Grove.
It has been nearly six years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and one of the many questions doctors are still working to answer concerns the long-term effects.
Leaders from Cook County, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository denounced changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on Wednesday.
The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center has received a grant from The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation for a new cancer center.
Chicago's Lurie Children's Hospital said Tuesday that it is no longer initiating gender-affirming medical treatment for minors.
With his name now hanging in the rafters, former Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is helping the United Center with its major redevelopment.
A potential bidding war is taking shape for the Daily Herald, the newspaper of record for suburban Chicago.
A Near West Side diner known for drawing in Blackhawks fans and players is up for sale.
January may be the coldest time of the year, but Chicago is already looking forward to summer farmers' markets.
A development proposal issued this month calls for the replacement of a building housing a Giordiano's pizzeria in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood with a new mixed-use building with 28 residential units.
"Dawson's Creek" and "Varsity Blues" star James Van Der Beek has died at 48 years old.
The 31-year-old Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny took the stage on Sunday dressed in all white, donning a jersey with his last name, Ocasio, and the number 64.
Brad Arnold, the founder and lead singer of the 3 Doors Down has died following "his courageous battle with cancer," the rock band announced Saturday on social media.
Bad Bunny took the stage at halftime for the 2026 Super Bowl. Here's who else performed at Super Bowl 60.
Gamers across the world can now recreate drone strikes in Ukraine from the comfort of their own home, with this newly released game.
Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon has the latest First Alert Weather forecast.
With a little over a month until the March 17 primary elections in Illinois, some candidates have been raking in huge amounts of campaign cash. In two key congressional races in the Chicago area, some of the candidates sitting on the largest campaign coffers might surprise you.
Members of the hemp industry in Chicago are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson veto a ban on most intoxicating hemp-derived products.
A new report shows American's heating bills are expected to rise 11% this winter, higher than expected. Energy experts said the increase is due to several factors: rising prices for natural gas, electricity, and heating oil; paired with sustained cold weather. Customers in northwest Indiana are taking their financial fight right directly to utility company NIPSCO.
It appears someone hacked into a Chicago Department of Transportation traffic sign in the Loop to display vulgar messages about President Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Several recent incidents of violence on trains and buses have put CTA safety in the spotlight as the city's mass transit system prepares to expand its AI gun detection technology in the coming weeks.
A cancer patient says his car has disappeared after a crash when a random tow truck driver showed up and took it to a body shop.
From Kat Abughazaleh to Jason Friedman, some surprising names lead in fundraising in Illinois' primary elections.
The move means the United States Environmental Protection Agency will no longer regulate greenhouse gases emitted from sources like cars, trucks and power plants.
Members of the hemp industry in Chicago are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson veto a ban on most intoxicating hemp-derived products.
From Kat Abughazaleh to Jason Friedman, some surprising names lead in fundraising in Illinois' primary elections.
The move means the United States Environmental Protection Agency will no longer regulate greenhouse gases emitted from sources like cars, trucks and power plants.
CBS News Chicago is tracking what led to the death of an 8-year-old boy in Round Lake Beach and whether state officials were aware of any red flags before his murder.
This is due in part to the new "Big Beautiful Bill" and job cuts at the Internal Revenue Service.
Fewer Chicago kids are getting the dental care they need, and some dentists are blaming Chicago Public Schools.
While their overall expectations might be much different, both the Cubs and White Sox are looking to make noticeable improvements in 2026 as they ramp up spring training in Arizona.
With his name now hanging in the rafters, former Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is helping the United Center with its major redevelopment.
After Iowa, Portage, and Gary joined the talks for the Bears' new stadium, leaders in Arlington Heights say this is now, more than ever, about keeping the team in Illinois.
Cade Horton, who won't have the innings restrictions like he did last year, when he still finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting.
Payton Pritchard scored 26 points and the Boston Celtics rolled past the Chicago Bulls 124-105 on Wednesday night in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break.
A man pleaded guilty Thursday to the murders of two brothers — both of them U.S. Marines — in Cicero, Illinois, more than three decades ago.
A man was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life in prison Wednesday for the murders of two men in an attempted robbery Chicago's Chinatown six years ago.
A Chicago man has been charged with robbing and beating a CTA passenger on board a Red Line train last fall.
A man was shot and killed early Wednesday during a carjacking in Chicago's Northalsted district, and the car that was stolen might have been used in a deadly shooting a short time later in Bronzeville.
Police said the suspected shooter, an 18-year-old resident of the community where the school is located, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
