Judge Won't Back Down In Effort To Get Kids In Care Of DCFS Out Of Limbo In Psych Wards, Temporary Shelters
Hundreds of children who can't go home to their families have instead been left in psych wards for months.
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Hundreds of children who can't go home to their families have instead been left in psych wards for months.
It is nightmare fuel for parents - your child coming home from school with mystery bruises and being unable to explain what happened. A Belmont Heights mom said she lived that nightmare, and the fight that followed to get her out of that school made things worse. So she called CBS 2's Marie Saavedra and got quick results.
The Better Government Association wanted to know if YouthCare - managed by for-profit Meridian Health - is working, but the state declined their request for information, so the BGA is going to court.
Police finally arrested the girl's abusers and finally Springfield took notice of how she was the one locked up long after she was cleared to leave
On orders from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, transportation vendors regularly shackled foster children -- hands, feet, and a body length chain connecting all four limbs.
Activists turned out Wednesday in front of the Grand Motel in the South Side's Washington Heights neighborhood, in support of a little girl who was sexually assaulted there last October.
Children trapped in psychiatric hospitals longer than they need to be and others simply falling through cracks are some of the critical problems the CBS 2 Investigators have been exposing for years at the Department of Children and Family Services.
Police and child protective services are scrambling to explain why multiple men who sexually abused a 10-year-old girl remain free, even though the suspects are known.
Hopeless, anxious, trapped – that is how a teenager described being locked in a psychiatric hospital for months longer than medically necessary.
A teenager spent months longer than necessary locked in a psychiatric hospital, and now out and in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, he wanted to share his story.
Gov. JB Pritzker has promised to make changes at the DCFS to protect children like the girl who was killed this weekend, Serenity Arrington. Still, dozens of children whose families were investigated by the DCFS have been killed in just the last year.
Carlos Acosta pleaded not guilty to two counts of child endangerment and one count of reckless conduct.
A former Illinois Department of Children and Family Services worker who is facing charges connected to the death of 5-year-old. A.J. Freund last year was a no-show at the McHenry County Board meeting Tuesday night.
As we practice social distancing to combat the coronavirus, there was some fear and worry Tuesday night that some children are being neglected – if not abused – during the stay-at-home mandate in the fight against coronavirus.
From small business to big government, organizations are reinventing themselves daily.
While the AJ Freund story made national headlines, some child advocates say another case – that of 4-year-old Tate Thurman – has eerie similarities as it unfolds in Central Illinois.
This week, the DCFS was called to task in front of state legislators for shackling foster kids.
A big infusion of cash appears headed to one of the biggest trouble spots in state government.
Of the 123 deaths in the fiscal year that ended last June, 24 were ruled homicides, 37 were accidental, 34 were natural, seven were suicide and 21 were undetermined.
Carlos Acosta and a supervisor were fired from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services after a lengthy disciplinary process.
The results of an audit of the Illinois child abuse hotline were released Thursday, and the reviews were not good. But even larger questions are emerging over whether the agency being audited was grading itself.
Illinois state legislators are looking at putting a new law on the books to prevent shackling of children from happening again.
Jawan Cross is not a prisoner – he's a teen in foster care – and yet, he was shackled by workers from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
A judge has ordered change within the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
The firings of DCFS investigators Carlos Acosta and Kathleen Gold, and their supervisor Andrew Polovin were recommended by the agency's inspector general in a confidential written report prepared for the head of DCFS.
For the second time this year, Chicago alderpeople did not meet quorum at the City Council's Transportation Committee hearing with CTA leadership.
The Vatican says bishops from the ultra-conservative Catholic SSPX society were automatically excommunicated after ignoring Pope Leo's plea for unity.
Chicago Cubs superfan known as "The Pink Hat Guy" has died at the age of 81, according to family members.
Two people died, and two others were critically injured after a mass shooting at a gas station in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood overnight.
All three suspects are facing multiple charges after attacking a CBS News Chicago crew and then pointing a gun at people in Brighton Park on Monday afternoon.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch is making moves to remove state Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) from office.
Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas DePodesta, who has led FBI Chicago for the past three years, is leaving his post on July 6.
Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling announced Wednesday that he is retiring later this month.
More than 1,000 grand jury presentations are under review after charges were dismissed in the "Broadview Six" case due to grand jury abuses and prosecutorial misconduct, Chicago's top federal prosecutor said.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker vowed the state will continue to protect transgender Illinoisans and athletes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling Tuesday.
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.
An Illinois law banning "swipe fees" on taxes and tips — already delayed twice by lawmakers — appears to be on life support after a federal judge that once permitted it issued a permanent injunction against it this week.
A new study from the Cook County Treasurer's office underlines growing concerns about the impact the Illinois megaprojects bill could have on the county's property tax base and overall fiscal health.
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.
In the four years since Roe v. Wade was overturned and Illinois became a destination for abortion care, Illinois providers and advocates have rebuilt the state's infrastructure to support the tens of thousands of people who travel to the state for abortion services every year.
June is National Aphasia Awareness Month, raising awareness of a disorder that affects a person's ability to speak, write, and understand both spoken and written language.
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.
Daley's Restaurant, known as Chicago's oldest, has served Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood for more than 130 years.
Walgreens is set to close in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood on Thursday, and there's growing concern about where families will get their medications.
The owners of Gene & Georgetti steakhouse are suing a concessions operator over their expansion at Midway International Airport.
Victor Willis, lead singer of the disco group Village People, whose hit "Y.M.C.A." became a fixture at rallies for President Trump, has died at the age of 74, his wife and the band said.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding plans include a rehearsal dinner and a late-night celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York City, according to sources familiar with the security planning.
Chicago rapper Twista has pleaded guilty to willfully failing to pay income taxes.
Lionel Richie's Chicago concert at the United Center has been postponed after the singer became sick at his tour opener in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Legendary musician Lionel Richie had to cut his performance short Wednesday night in St. Paul, Minnesota, leaving fans with many questions.
For the second time this year, Chicago alderpeople did not meet quorum at the City Council's Transportation Committee hearing with CTA leadership.
Rescue teams are continuing their search after a deadly earthquake in Venezuela.
Two people died, and two others were critically injured after a mass shooting at a gas station in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood overnight.
Meteorologist Laura Bannon has the extended forecast.
The only two things manufacturers can print moving forward are “use by” or “freeze by” to indicate when food is no longer safe to eat.
Four people were injured in a mass shooting near a gas station in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood overnight.
All three suspects are facing multiple charges after attacking a CBS News Chicago crew and then pointing a gun at people in Brighton Park on Monday afternoon.
Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling announced he will retire on July 15.
For the second time this year, Chicago alderpeople did not meet quorum at the City Council's Transportation Committee hearing with CTA leadership.
The Vatican says bishops from the ultra-conservative Catholic SSPX society were automatically excommunicated after ignoring Pope Leo's plea for unity.
In a major turnaround in the opioid crisis, overdose deaths are falling across Chicago and Cook County.
An Uber driver who was assaulted during a ride said he begged Chicago police officers not once but twice for help, but was left to fend for himself.
CBS News Chicago has learned that Illinois home insurance premiums are not only higher than the nation's average, but going up faster too.
The Cook County Sheriff's Office has been a part of Illinois' enhanced CTA security plan and state-led task force dedicated to making it safe since the end of March. Their officers have worked more than 4,000 hours a month.
A rideshare driver was shot in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood on Monday night.
The Cubs (49-38) have won five straight after sweeping the Padres (43-42), who have lost five in a row.
Dean Kremer pitched six impressive innings in his return from a quad injury, and the Baltimore Orioles avoided a sweep Wednesday with a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Alex Bregman, Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong added homers to help the Cubs win for the 10th time in 12 games.
Colson Montgomery and Junior Perez homered during Chicago's seven-run third inning and the White Sox pounded the Baltimore Orioles 9-3 on Tuesday night.
A 9-year-old boy from Arizona won a nice chunk of change recently, thanks in part to the signature of Chicago White Sox infielder and slugger Munetaka Murakami.
An alleged member of a criminal cyber hacking group had been extradited to Chicago face federal charges after being arrested in Finland.
More than 1,000 grand jury presentations are under review after charges were dismissed in the "Broadview Six" case due to grand jury abuses and prosecutorial misconduct, Chicago's top federal prosecutor said.
A man was arrested and charged this week with shooting and killing his estranged wife in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood this past January.
A man was found shot to death inside a home in Chicago's Pullman community early Wednesday morning.
A Lake County, Illinois, man was due in court Wednesday on charges of making direct threats to Latino immigrants.
