Chicago swimmer exercises in frigid Lake Michigan in middle of winter
While Barton Williams does not wear a wet suit, he does wear a diving hood, goggles, gloves, and booties for his feet. He carries a rope to prevent slipping on the ice.
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While Barton Williams does not wear a wet suit, he does wear a diving hood, goggles, gloves, and booties for his feet. He carries a rope to prevent slipping on the ice.
We all know physical fitness is important – and even in these dark, cold days of winter, it’s good to keep moving. This week, one workout stood out in particular – courtesy of Barton Williams, a Chicagoan taking the “cold plunge” to an entirely level.
"We have the world's best water, and many, many households are drinking it through a toxic straw," said Rachel Havrelock, director of the Freshwater Lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
On Tuesday, a committee hearing is scheduled at City Council to discuss how Chicago is moving forward with replacing lead pipes. CBS 2's Noel Brennan spoke to leaders who believe this goal is not a pipe dream.
A witness says they saw three men running away shortly after the crash.
Police say officers responded to an auto accident and found a blue sedan that had veered off the road and into Lake Michigan.
The crash happened around 3 a.m., in the 3600 block of North Recreation Drive in the Lake View neighborhood.
Police said the man was able to escape the vehicle before it became completely submerged underwater.
A videographer with Chicago & Midwest Storm Chasers got close to angry waves pulverizing the shoreline along 63rd Street Beach in Jackson Park.
Now here's something you don't see everyday, or ever: flamingos in Wisconsin.
Jim Dreyer, also known as ‘The Shark’, made headlines for trying to swim across Lake Michigan for a second time, this time without an escort boat. The 82-mile attempt was cut short due to dangerous weather conditions, treacherous waves, and equipment failure. Will he try it again? Dreyer spoke with CBS 2 on if there’s a chance for a third try.
Video showed rescue crews jumping from a chopper to save the man who went under.
A 25-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition after a water rescue in the "playpen" on Lake Michigan over the weekend. Northwestern Hospital did not reply to a request for information about the man's condition on Monday. CBS 2's Tara Molina had the story.
A 25-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition after a water rescue in the "playpen" on Lake Michigan over the weekend. It's unclear what his condition was as of Monday.
Emergency crews responded to Whiting Lakefront Park for a missing person last seen struggling in the water and going under the surface near the boat ramps.
Bryan Jackson has not been seen since he was on a boat near 31st Street Harbor since he went into the water near McCormick Place on Tuesday morning. CBS 2's Charlie De Mar reports.
He had a similar attempt last month that was also called off because conditions were too dangerous.
There is growing concern for safety along the lakefront now that Chicago beaches will no longer have lifeguards on duty, with the end of summer after Labor Day.
Divers were searching Lake Michigan for a missing boater near McCormick Place on Tuesday, after a man and a 14-year-old boy died and a woman was left in critical condition after being pulled from Lake Michigan in separate incidents within 24 hours on Monday and Tuesday.
Divers were searching Lake Michigan for a missing boater near McCormick Place on Tuesday, after a man and a 14-year-old boy died and a woman was left in critical condition after being pulled from Lake Michigan in separate incidents within 24 hours on Monday and Tuesday.
Chicago Fire Department officials said a person went for a swim off a 27-boat about a mile offshore from McCormick Place, and did not resurface.
Once the lifeguards hang up their rescue buoy for the season, we know the drownings tend to occur when no one is keeping a watchful eye.
Jim "The Shark" Dreyer, a 60-year-old marathon swimmer, is attempting to swim from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Grand Haven, Michigan.
Once the lifeguards hang up their rescue buoy for the season, we know the drownings tend to occur when no one is keeping a watchful eye. CBS 2's Marybel Gonzalez reports.
It turns out there are sharks in Lake Michigan after all. Well, at least that was the case on Monday. Jim "The Shark" Dreyer, a 60-year-old marathon swimmer, attempted to cross Lake Michigan by swimming 82 miles from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Grand Haven, Michigan.
Gov. JB Pritzker lobbed some strong words about the Chicago Bears straight at Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Monday morning.
A gust of wind this stormy Monday knocked over a small plane at Chicago's Midway International Airport and caused a fuel spill.
Consumer and environmental advocates said Monday that they found overcharges buried in the most recent rate-hike request by Nicor.
A judge Monday delayed a decision on issuing a temporary restraining order against the Markham Park District for an incident involving a helicopter landing for prom last week.
Chicago Public Schools is facing a $733 million budget gap, and has delivered more than 600 individual proposals to its principals with ideas on how to handle the shortfall.
An attorney for Chicago Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th) on Monday called an ethics investigation into the alderman's conduct a malicious "travesty."
In a move aimed at curbing the growing problem of "teen takeovers," D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is threatening to bring charges against parents if their teens violate the local curfew.
State Rep. Josh Turek and State Sen. Zach Wahls squared off Thursday over which candidate can flip Iowa's open Republican-held Senate seat, as millions in outside spending reshapes the primary's final stretch.
Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin say their concern is there may be more emergency exit doors than flight attendants in the event of an evacuation.
Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th) is suing the city of Chicago, its inspector general's office, and the Board of Ethics, accusing them of defamation.
Consumer and environmental advocates said Monday that they found overcharges buried in the most recent rate-hike request by Nicor.
One week away from Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of the summer travel season, with gas prices remaining high, negotiations were set to resume Monday at the largest oil refinery in the Midwest.
Chatham residents say they're losing a vital resource as Walgreen's prepares to close its store near 86th and Cottage Grove.
According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in Chicago was $5.17 on Friday, up from $3.75 a year ago.
Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Company customers are likely to see minor credits on their bills for the next three years, thanks to a $125 million settlement agreement announced Thursday by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
The Kane County Health Department was set Monday to offer a free mental health awareness webinar.
At least 80 deaths have been reported in a new Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda, authorities said.
Engineers at Northwestern University have created a wireless polygraph to detect stress.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Wednesday announced an expansion to the city's CARE Program, a specialized team that responds to mental health crises without police.
A Texas couple is filing a lawsuit accusing the AI company of guiding their teenage son in using drugs, resulting in a fatal overdose.
DraftKings announced Monday that it is closing its sportsbook operation at Wrigley Field after only about two years.
After more than 80 years, there will be no Ann Sather restaurant location in the 900 block of West Belmont Avenue in Chicago's Lakeview community, effective in June.
Flight attendants at Chicago-based United Airlines have approved a new labor contract, marking their first pay increases in six years.
The Chicago Fire FC announced Wednesday morning that its new stadium in the South Loop will be named McDonald's Park.
U.S. prosecutors allege a man with multiple aliases used the name of the famed Astor family to scam a Mexican billionaire out of $450 million.
The Chicago-born house music track, which began as a personal poem in 1982 and became a defining anthem of the city's house music scene, has been selected for permanent preservation by the Library of Congress.
The Library of Congress revealed this year's list of 25 recordings to be preserved for future generations on the National Recording Registry.
David Allan Coe also had hits with "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" and "The Ride" among others.
Some youngsters got a behind-the-scenes look at the magic of making opera Sunday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Matt DeCaro, an actor who was a familiar face on the Chicago stage for many years, died this weekend.
Gov. JB Pritzker lobbed some strong words about the Chicago Bears straight at Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Monday morning.
A judge Monday delayed a decision on issuing a temporary restraining order against the Markham Park District for an incident involving a helicopter landing for prom last week.
Consumer and environmental advocates said Monday that they found overcharges buried in the most recent rate-hike request by Nicor.
Storms pass by mid-afternoon then mostly cloudy and cooler Monday. Lows in the upper 60s.
Mangione is charged with killing UnitedHealthcare chief executive officer Brian Thompson.
A round of thunderstorms swept into the Chicago area Monday morning, and more were expected later in the day.
DraftKings announced Monday that it is closing its sportsbook operation at Wrigley Field after only about two years.
One person is dead, and two others were hospitalized, in a home explosion in Wonder Lake, Illinois, far northwest of Chicago Sunday night.
New details were expected Monday about a push to improve safety on Chicago Transit Authority buses and trains.
Gov. JB Pritzker lobbed some strong words about the Chicago Bears straight at Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Monday morning.
Pothole complaints continue everywhere, but especially on one street in the Pullman neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.
People in Lincoln Park and Lakeview have rallied against a plan to build a new industrial ComEd electrical substation in their neighborhoods, pushing local and state leaders to get involved.
Monday marks one year since Illinois enacted Karina's Law — legislation aimed at taking firearms out of the hands of people accused of domestic abuse.
Tenants at a South Shore apartment building said they've noticed their rent fluctuating by hundreds of dollars a month due to a change in how their utility billing system is set up.
A man from the Chicago suburbs lost $69,000 of his savings to a scam by a thief using an AI-generated U.S. Marshals badge to intimidate him.
Rookie Gabriela Jaquez set career highs with 20 points and eight rebounds, Kamilla Cardoso had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and the Chicago Sky beat the Minnesota Lynx 86-79.
Edgar Quero hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and the Chicago White Sox beat the Chicago Cubs 9-8 on Sunday in the rubber game of their first crosstown series this season.
Murakami added his 17th homer in the fifth, a two-run shot to center off Jameson Taillon that traveled an estimated 428 feet.
Chris Brady had six saves for Chicago and has six shutouts this season.
Carson Kelly hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning and drove in four runs as the Chicago Cubs stopped a five-game White Sox winning streak with a 10-5 victory over their crosstown rival.
Police in Michigan City, Indiana, were searching Monday for the person they said shot and killed a 14-year-old boy.
Burglars hit a string of businesses in Chicago's South Loop early Monday morning.
Burglars broke into a CBD and kratom dispensary on Chicago's Near West Side early Monday morning.
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office will announced a new taskforce Monday bringing federal officers on board to help with crime on CTA.
A man was hospitalized early Monday after he was shot in the face while driving on Chicago's Southwest Side.
