Aroma Park didn't qualify for FEMA funds after tornadoes, mayor says
CBS News Chicago learned it wasn't White House favoritism or even a rejection by FEMA that led to the decision.
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CBS News Chicago learned it wasn't White House favoritism or even a rejection by FEMA that led to the decision.
As families work to rebuild their lives after tornadoes touched down in the Chicago area and northwest Indiana on Tuesday, questions over whether the federal government will help out will likely be a focal point down the road.
The Department of Homeland Security officially shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday after Congress failed to pass a bill to fund its operations before a stopgap measure lapsed.
Illinois residents who were hit hard by storms last August have once again been denied extra help from the federal government by the Trump administration.
There might be some relief on the way for people whose homes recently flooded during storms in Chicago.
The Southwest Side of Chicago is still recovering from flood damage over the weekend, with homeowners filing reports with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, trying to get money to help rebuild.
FEMA joined state, county, and city officials this week, going door-to-door in parts of Chicago hit hardest by flooding from heavy rain in July.
More than a week after deadly floods struck Central Texas, search and rescue teams are continuing to probe debris for those still missing.
It was not clear to staff whether FEMA's David Richardson meant it literally or as a joke, but current and former employees who spoke with CBS News said the comment flustered many.
Help from FEMA may include grants for temporary housing, basic home repair or replacement, and other disaster-related expenses.
Help from FEMA may include grants for temporary housing, basic home repair or replacement, and other disaster-related expenses.
The agency did not say where the situation happened, but Gov. Ron DeSantis said it occurred in Florida, calling it "targeted discrimination."
President Biden told Floridians his administration would offer support "for as long as it takes to rescue, recover and rebuild."
Anyone whose home or business sustained damage from tornadoes in the Chicago area this past summer can now get help with repairs.
The National Weather Service confirmed 41 tornadoes in Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana on the nights of both Sunday, July 14, and Monday, July 15.
A CBS News investigation found numerous examples across the U.S. where emergency officials failed to issue timely alerts to warn the public about safety threats — or never issued an alert at all.
If approved, you could get grant money for home repairs or help for your small business.
A temporary FEMA disaster assistance center opened in Riverdale to serve renters, homeowners and business owners affected by storms and flooding.
"People kept riding through it with the big trucks and every time they would ride through it it would cause a wave, and it would come up more."
FEMA and the FCC launched a nationwide test of the emergency alert system on Wednesday.
FEMA said so far, it has given out more than $150 million in assistance to 42,000 households and more than $32 million in small business disaster loans.
"We were actually getting so much water, that the system that we have, the sewage collection system, the drainage system, the stormwater management system, simply could not take in that much water."
"We've had issues with flooding in our alleys. Our alleys are not paved. Our taxes continue to go up."
The center will help provide recovery assistance to residents in Chatham, Avalon Park, and other surrounding South Side communities.
While many are still recovering from the record heat wave last week, on Monday FEMA continues its Summer Ready campaign with an extreme heat summit.
Police say a man and a woman were last seen speaking with the victim before the shooting.
A musician with The Elgin Symphony on Monday shared their talents with young performers in Syria.
An autopsy performed on Monday indicated that the victim died from multiple gunshot wounds, the Lake County Coroner's Office said.
For the past year, neighbor Donna Sagna Davis collected hundreds of prayers from people who stopped by. However, on May 6, she also got a citation for excessive noise from the village of Dolton.
At the first board meeting on Monday morning, members packed every single speaking slot, with the exception of one.
Parents of students in the Chicago Public Schools system had a chance Monday to weigh in on the next budget.
Local leaders and housing advocates on Monday called on Chicago's City Hall to push back on a so-called FAIR Ordinance, which would scale back some of the plans in Mayor Brandon Johnson's Protect Renters Ordinance.
This is the first time in more than 150 years that a vice president's family had a child while in office.
Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez ended her Democratic primary campaign for Wisconsin governor Friday, citing financial problems she said would distract from an election Democrats need to win.
President Trump delivered a speech on election security Thursday night at the White House. Here are the facts behind some of his claims.
Chicago remained the most bed bug-treated city in the country, according to Orkin's latest annual rankings covering a full year of residential and commercial treatment data.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul this week warned residents cleaning up from last month's storms to be on the lookout for scams.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed several new consumer protections into law, including a ban on junk fees.
CBS News Chicago has learned that Illinois home insurance premiums are not only higher than the nation's average, but going up faster too.
As an alternative to legalizing video gambling terminals citywide, Bally's offered to open slot machine lounges at O'Hare and Midway, saying the move would replace the $6.8 million the city budgeted from VGTs.
A lettuce supplier to fast-food giant Taco Bell has been linked to a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands of people, the CDC said.
Chicago just barely made the top 20 in the American College of Sports Medicine's 2026 ranking of the country's fittest cities.
In a major turnaround in the opioid crisis, overdose deaths are falling across Chicago and Cook County.
The north Chicago suburb of Glenview became the latest Illinois municipality this week to confirm mosquitoes testing positive for the West Nile virus this year.
Environmental and community groups are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to act on a petition challenging U.S. Steel Gary Works operating permit renewal.
Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois are both seeking rate increases that would raise monthly bills by as much as $28, while their parent companies seek regulatory approval to merge — a deal a consumer watchdog says would give one company control of nearly all regulated water customers in the state.
The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general from several states secured a right-to-repair settlement Wednesday with agriculture equipment giant Deere & Co. — commonly known as John Deere — that requires the company to let farmers and independent shops fix their own equipment.
Chicago Soul Café opened Monday at 6248 S. St. Lawrence Ave.
The Chicago Bears this weekend said they are assessing land at Wolf Lake Terminals in Hammond, Indiana, for a possible new stadium.
As an alternative to legalizing video gambling terminals citywide, Bally's offered to open slot machine lounges at O'Hare and Midway, saying the move would replace the $6.8 million the city budgeted from VGTs.
Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" is the first film shot entirely on 70mm IMAX cameras, and Cinemark Seven Bridges in Woodridge is 1 of roughly 30 theaters nationwide equipped to show it that way.
Brenda Fricker won an Academy Award for 1989's "My Left Foot," played the Pigeon Lady in "Home Alone 2" and appeared in "A Time to Kill" and "So I Married an Axe Murderer."
The actor's agent said he was providing more information following news reports "which contain inaccuracies and outright falsehoods."
New Zealand actor Sam Neill, known for "Jurassic Park" and "The Piano," died Monday at 78, his family says.
The 46th Taste of Chicago is cashless for the first time, accepting only credit cards, with a drone and fireworks show scheduled for approximately 9:15 p.m. Friday near Buckingham Fountain.
Two musicians with The Elgin Symphony on Monday shared their talents with young performers in Syria.
Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon is tracking storm chances in First Alert Weather.
Donna Sagna Davis has played music through a speaker at her window, Gregorian chants off YouTube, or sermons streamed from her church. But she says the city recently tried to fine her $750 to keep her quiet.
Three people were hurt in an explosion outside a federal building in New York. Police said a man approached the building and set off fireworks, starting a fire, while armed with guns, knives, a machete, and two axes.
Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, and first lieutenant Tyler James Freehan, 25, of Hawaii were killed during an Iranian attack on an air base in Jordan. The U.S. Military said another service member was killed Saturday in Iraq.
A Chicago police SWAT officer was shot in the stomach while responding to a hostage situation after a woman was shot and critically injured Monday morning in the Albany Park neighborhood.
Police say a man and a woman were last seen speaking with the victim before the shooting.
A musician with The Elgin Symphony on Monday shared their talents with young performers in Syria.
An autopsy performed on Monday indicated that the victim died from multiple gunshot wounds, the Lake County Coroner's Office said.
For the past year, neighbor Donna Sagna Davis collected hundreds of prayers from people who stopped by. However, on May 6, she also got a citation for excessive noise from the village of Dolton.
Neighbors in the Avalon Park neighborhood said their community has been plagued by squatters, weeds, rats, and water leaks – all thanks to an abandoned home that's been sitting vacant for years.
Chicago has been feeling the heat this week, with highs in the 90s the past five days, but officials are making moves to cool off some of the hottest parts of the city, specifically Chicago Park District fieldhouses where many turn to keep cool.
Gene Rush survived throat cancer, but he didn't survive a trip to the Porter County Jail over 4th of July weekend. His family said jail staff failed to provide lifesaving medical care.
Haze from Canadian wildfire smoke that has settled in Chicago on Thursday is directly connected to climate change, according to experts, who said days like this could be more problematic moving forward.
A pair of jewelry importers have been charged in federal court in Chicago with smuggling millions of dollars in gold jewelry into the U.S. to avoid taxes, schemes uncovered by a federal task force that has surpassed $1 billion in recoveries and penalties over the past year.
Spain topped Argentina in extra time, one-nil, after playing scoreless for 90 minutes at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Jordin Canada didn't score a point in the first half. With 0.3 seconds on the clock and the game tied at 91, she scored the biggest basket of the night.
Braden Montgomery had two hits and an RBI as the White Sox bounced back from Saturday's 1-0 loss to take two of three from the Blue Jays. Toronto scored five total runs in the series.
Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer in the first and Imanaga (6-8) took over from there, allowing six hits with one walk before leaving after 99 pitches.
Spain dominated the match, outshooting Argentina 20-3, but couldn't manage a goal in regulation — finally scoring in the second period of extra time.
A Chicago police SWAT officer was shot in the stomach while responding to a hostage situation after a woman was shot and critically injured Monday morning in the Albany Park neighborhood.
A woman was expected to recover after she was shot while driving in Chicago's Englewood community Sunday night.
A man was shot and killed in a fight in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood Sunday night.
A man was stabbed to death in North Chicago, Illinois, early Sunday morning.
Minneapolis police are investigating after a mass shooting seriously injured two people and wounded seven others outside a nightclub in the Uptown neighborhood early Sunday morning.
