Generation Heroin: Mom Lost Her Son, Now Works To Save Others
Caroline Kacena can't believe where her life has led her.
Watch CBS News
Caroline Kacena can't believe where her life has led her.
Tim Ryan started drinking at 13, and was dabbling in drugs soon after. In his early 30's he tried heroin for the first time.
If your loved one was addicted to heroin, would you know? For most parents and loved ones, the revelation comes as complete surprise and many learn after it's too late.
Since 2012, heroin has taken a life every three days in Chicago's suburbs. WBBM's Lisa Fielding has this first part in her series, "Generation Heroin."
Beginning this summer, when you apply for a new Illinois license, you'll now be getting it through the mail.
Twenty new restaurants will make their Taste of Chicago debut this summer, including six food trucks, and 11 vendors who will sell at pop-up stands for one or two days.
It took 20 rolls of duct tape but every student at St. John's Lutheran School got a chance to stick it to their principal Doug Markworth.
Chicago is just weeks away from the grand opening of Navy Pier's new and improved Ferris wheel and now it has a new name.
There isn't much John O'Hurley hasn't done in his nearly 40-year career.
The last time Jim Johnson saw John Borling, it was Feb. 12, 1973. They reunited this week in the southwest suburbs. WBBM's Lisa Fielding reports.
Dave Urban was a staple in Roscoe Village, selling StreetWise for 14 years.
Ground will soon be broken on what will be Chicago's third tallest building, reports WBBM's Lisa Fielding.
After a wild turkey took over for their mother, who was killed by a hawk, a nest of duck eggs has begun hatching at a west suburban animal rescue center.
It was a big day for seniors at Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men as they recited the school's creed at a special ceremony at Daley Plaza.
Tracy Swenson remembers the day in May of 2012 when her husband Aaron was killed by a speeding truck driver that slammed into the back of his car while he was stopped in a construction zone.
Inmates being dragged, manhandled, and forced to the ground; Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has released six videos showing deputies using excessive force, saying the public has the right to know.
A bacterial infection called Elizabethkingia has already claimed 18 lives in Wisconsin. Now the first case confirmed here in Illinois has taken another life, reports CBS 2's Marissa Bailey.
The RBI program allows young men to play who wouldn't otherwise be able to.
On the North Side, continued Wrigley Field renovations will make it a bit more difficult as fans flock to the home opener.
Residents of Fairdale continue to recover from a deadly tornado that ripped through the tiny town. This weekend, they will mark the one year anniversary with remembrance and celebration.
The family of five was headed from Chicago to Washington D.C. March 20. They say they were asked to leave when they requested a strap for the youngest child's booster seat.
Prosecutors in DeKalb County have said the conviction of a 76-year-old man in the 1957 murder of a 7-year-old girl, because newly obtained phone records show he could not possibly have abducted her.
Hundreds of Chicago students were the first to see "Magic Tree House: A night in New Orleans," now playing at the Broadway Playhouse. WBBM's Lisa Fielding reports.
They say without the flowers, a turtle named Tortie and an iguana named Roxy miss out on snacks and play time.
The Roman telescope is named after NASA's first chief astronomer. It is equipped with a 300-megapixel infrared camera, with a field of view 100 times larger than Hubble's.
One person was killed and another was wounded in a shooting Sunday night at a hotel in northwest suburban Wheeling.
Bodycam videos shows the arrest of a superior court judge in Northwest Indiana for drunk driving last weekend.
Many of those working to put food on the tables of their neighbors are without power themselves.
The Supreme Court divided 6-3 in granting the Trump administration's request for emergency relief.
President Trump said tariffs on Canadian automotive and steel imports will rise to 50% on Jan. 1, 2027, in a social media post.
After losing one of the closest House races in the country, Democrat Christina Bohannan is campaigning earlier and deeper into rural Iowa, including counties she did not visit before the 2024 election.
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said Monday that there was "no apology necessary" on her part over a heated text exchange with former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin recently.
Researchers and disability rights advocates warn that the dismantling of the Education Department and its erosions of civil rights oversight risk widening the disparities autistic children face.
Cook County homeowners are again facing a sharper increase in property taxes this year than businesses, the Office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced Monday.
Contracted linemen from out of state sat idle in a Griffith church parking lot for hours without work orders from NIPSCO, as residents in Northwest Indiana approach two weeks without power.
A law firm has filed a class action lawsuit against NIPSCO, alleging the utility's failure to manage trees and vegetation has left thousands of Northwest Indiana residents without power for up to two weeks.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
A new Illinois law signed by Gov. Pritzker offers up to $1,000 to eligible homeowners hit by storm damage, but the money won't be available until next year — and the program only covers certain areas of Chicago.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
Moderna and Merck announced study results that reflect a "landmark moment" in treatment for one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer.
Researchers from the University of Chicago have uncovered some information on how space travel affects — or actually doesn't affect — the heart.
As people age, it becomes crucial to do whatever possible to protect from issues like memory loss. But leading neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter said the process actually starts well before advanced age.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is not adopting new federal child vaccine guidelines and will continue following recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
An expert blames Illinois lawmakers and "internecine political problems" for the failure to seal a deal for a new stadium within the state for the Chicago Bears.
Real estate investment and development firm Concord Capital has acquired nine apartment buildings on Elaine Place, a single-block residential street in Chicago's East Lakeview community.
The Chicago Plan Commission voted Thursday to approve a plan to redevelop Ford City Mall into an industrial complex, despite objections from some neighbors.
A new Barnes & Noble bookstore opened in the heart of downtown Chicago on Wednesday, while separately, a building that used to house an old Barnes & Noble store in the Gold Coast was being demolished.
The Original Rainbow Cone celebrated its 100th anniversary on Sunday with a special event at its Beverly location.
Madonna leads all artists with 11 nominations at this year's MTV VMAs, and a full sweep would tie her with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the most VMA wins in history.
Hayden Panettiere, who starred in "Remember the Titans" as a child actor and rose to fame in the series "Heroes," has died at the age of 36. The coroner's office says she was found in cardiac arrest.
Buddy Guy was honored with the Chicago Music Legend Award at the Obama Presidential Center's Chicago Culture Ball this weekend.
Bal Khabra is the author of the four-part series "Off the Ice," a college hockey romance collection that is wrapping up at just the right time.
Crews need about a week and a half to tear down the festival site before the city can begin its own inspection — and past cleanup costs have topped $1 million.
Staff says that without the flowers, a turtle and an iguana miss out on snacks and playtime.
According to the Antioch Fire Department, a medic crew was called onto the field during the game between Antioch and Schaumburg high schools around 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, to treat an injured player.
The telescope will help astronomers explore mysterious dark matter and dark energy. Adler Planetarium's Geza Gyuk, senior director of astronomy, and Hunter Miller, public observing educator, were invited by NASA to witness the launch.
Meteorologist David Yeomans has the latest First Alert Weather forecast.
Enrollment is currently open and spots are already filling up for the classes at Fire Station 24.
Prosecutors offered a plea deal to Keshia Golden, charged with killing her boyfriend in 2022, which she said was self-defense.
Grayson, 32, was found guilty last October of second-degree murder for the shooting of Sonya Massey and was serving a 20-year sentence.
They say without the flowers, a turtle named Tortie and an iguana named Roxy miss out on snacks and play time.
Almost two weeks since power was knocked out in Northwest Indiana, nearly 10,000 homes and businesses were still in the dark on Monday afternoon.
The Roman telescope is named after NASA's first chief astronomer. It is equipped with a 300-megapixel infrared camera, with a field of view 100 times larger than Hubble's.
The program was launched by the utility company last year, with some saying it makes it easier to address problem poles.
She was counting down the days to the first day of 5th grade until her school district told her she didn't have a spot there. Now, a federal judge has ordered the district to put the 10-year-old girl with autism back in her neighborhood school.
Who you gonna call if someone locks you out of your own charity? That's the question members of a Ghostbusters-themed nonprofit say they're asking.
Residents of Ogleby Towers on Wednesday morning spoke out about the system that constantly changes their rent, which they say makes it hard to budget.
CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, Harley Johnson, gave CBS News Chicago an exclusive look inside the new park in South Chicago.
The WNBA has been the subject of recent debates on whether transgender women should be allowed to participate in the league.
Senior defensive back Mark Johnson signed up to be on the national bone marrow registry, and when he got the call, he came through.
The Sky were eliminated from the playoff race with the loss and a win by Washington on Sunday night.
Cubs blew out the Seattle Mariners 19-2 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.
It was Peters' third walk-off hit of the season.
One person was killed and another was wounded in a shooting Sunday night at a hotel in northwest suburban Wheeling.
At least four people were killed, and 17 more were injured, in weekend shootings across Chicago as of Sunday, according to police.
Chicago police this weekend issued a warning about a string of armed robberies in the city's Bronzeville community.
Illinois State Police and the FBI announced this weekend that they may have a new lead, though not a suspect, in the 1992 murder of college student Tammy Zywicki.
Chicago police were investigating early Sunday after a man was slashed to death the night before in Washington Park.
