4,300 people take part in Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Illinois
An estimated 4,300 brave souls took part in the Polar Plunge in Lake Michigan this chilly Sunday, all to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.
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An estimated 4,300 brave souls took part in the Polar Plunge in Lake Michigan this chilly Sunday, all to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.
Some brave souls were set to take a dip in the frigid waters of Lake Michigan on Sunday for the Polar Plunge, to benefit the Special Olympics. Chicago Park District Special Olympics administrator Eileen Guinane, Special Children’s Charities director Amy Taylor, and Chicago Fire Department Deputy District Chief Jason Lach join Suzanne Le Mignot with a preview.
Chicago's annual Polar Plunge returns to Lake Michigan this weekend.
The annual fundraising event benefits Special Olympics Illinois and Special Children's Charities.
The annual Chicago Ducky Derby will splash down in the Chicago River Thursday afternoon.
The Special Olympics is holding its annual Spring Games and the competition is coming to Chicago next week. Soldier Field is hosting the Special Olympics Spring Games Opening Ceremony on Thursday to kick things off.
Burbank Elementary School in Belmont Cragin received the honor. Meanwhile at Nathan Hale Elementary School, a band, Santa, and a real-life reindeer greeted students Thursday.
Thousands of rubber ducks splashed into the water and each duck was paid for online with money going to the Special Olympics. The first three to cross the finish line won a prize from their sponsors.
CBS 2's Marshall Harris talks to student-athletes at Homewood-Flossmoor High School including those involved in the Special Olympics team. It's a National Banner School for the Special Olympics.
The competition featured 150 athletes between the ages of 45 to 74.
They're going for the gold, even as the mercury was rising. That was the sentiment from players as the Special Olympics held its first-ever Golden Games for older competitors. CBS 2's Sara Machi was at the starting line with one participant who's been with Special Olympics since the very beginning.
There were more than 93,000 ducks in this year's race. The owner of the winning duck received a new SUV.
All those little rubber ducks are adding up to a big payday for the Special Olympics.
More than 93,000 adopted ducks swam up the river to benefit the Illinois Special Olympics.
The torch is headed to Bloomington for the summer games starting on Friday.
'That care and concern and bringing them in and bringing them to be part of that mainstream, it's happening and it's being led by the kids."
The Special Olympics Young Athletes Program brought together kids of all ages and skill levels. CBS 2's Andrew Ramos shows us the impact the games are having on the community.
This year's participating departments include Northbrook, Saint Charles, and Palos Park.
This year's participating departments include Northbrook, Saint Charles, and Palos Park.
This year's participating departments include Northbrook, Saint Charles, and Palos Park.
"I get emotional when I see him around other kids just like him because it's amazing what these kids can actually do. Especially in their situation."
It was a beautiful day to start the Special Olympics Chicago Spring Games, with track and field events. CBS 2's Shardaa Gray shows us the action from Dunbar Park on the South Side.
The games kick off Tuesday morning at Dunbar Park on the South Side.
Monday's rain couldn't dampen the spirits of thousands of athletes who took over Soldier Field. It was the opening ceremony for the Special Olympics Spring Games.
We showed you the celebration earlier this week, as De La Salle Institute and Southside Occupational Academy celebrated their unified team division two state championship.
It is unclear how the fire started and whether there were any displacements.
Six Flags Great America in Gurnee is celebrating its 50th birthday this year, and after half a century it's still bringing joy to countless people in the Chicago area.
The Tinley Park Country Music fest was hugely delayed and somewhat damaged by strong storms on Friday.
A Park Ridge daycare worker has been arrested and charged for striking a child, police said.
Nathan Church and Masyn Winn hit three-run homers and the St. Louis Cardinals had 17 hits overall to beat the Chicago Cubs 17-1.
President Trump hasn't committed to a firm number of people who will receive clemency — he's scheduled to have a meeting on pardons Friday afternoon, sources said.
Dr. Debra Houry, who resigned in protest from the health agency, said the spread of misinformation impacted lives.
David Hearn is accused of ripping out a piece of sealant on the bottom of the Reflecting Pool on June 19, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were married as they celebrated their wedding with hundreds of guests Friday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Renowned singer-songwriter and Chicago-area native John Prine will be honored with a mural at the Old Town School of Folk Music in the Lincoln Square community.
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.
Fire officials said four people were taken to the hospital in good condition, and three others in fair condition. Twelve other people refused treatment.
A mostly cloudy forecast for the Fourth of July Saturday, with afternoon and evening thunderstorms likely. Highs in the upper 80s.
Six Flags Great America in Gurnee is celebrating its 50th birthday this year, and after half a century it's still bringing joy to countless people in the Chicago area.
The Tinley Park Country Music fest was hugely delayed and somewhat damaged by strong storms on Friday.
It's official: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are married. They wed in a ceremony officiated by Adam Sandler in Madison Square Garden.
Two Chicago police officers were shot on the city's South Side Friday evening during a struggle after a traffic stop. The driver was also shot and critically injured.
Another round of thunderstorms is approaching, prompting a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the entire Chicago area into the overnight hours.
Three children died on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin after a boat capsized during a severe storm Friday, Lake Geneva police said.
Multiple Fourth of July fireworks displays planned for Friday night in the Chicago area have been canceled or rescheduled because of strong thunderstorms moving through the area.
It is unclear how the fire started and whether there were any displacements.
About 13,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries in 2025, and with America's 250 birthday celebration about to start, doctors worry even more people could get hurt this year.
A new AI-powered tool being used by some police departments claims to turn a shell casing into an investigative lead in under 24 minutes.
University of Illinois - Chicago scientists took their lab work to the streets of the South Side during this week's heat wave, checking on tree cover and tree health in some of Chicago's more vulnerable neighborhoods.
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.
Nathan Church and Masyn Winn hit three-run homers and the St. Louis Cardinals had 17 hits overall to beat the Chicago Cubs 17-1.
Brayan Rocchio hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the Cleveland Guardians a 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a four-game series between the top two teams in the AL Central.
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.
Chicago police are looking for three men who targeted four businesses in Bridgeport and Bronzeville overnight, on the hunt for ATMs and cash registers.
Two people are dead, and one is injured after a shooting at Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn, Michigan, on Friday.
A man was ordered detained Thursday after the shooting death of an employee at an Amazon Fulfillment Center in Matteson, Illinois, earlier this week.
A man is charged for sexually assaulting a woman while she was jogging on the 606 Trail in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood over the weekend.
Burglars crashed a sport-utility vehicle into a convenience store in Chicago's Loop early Thursday morning.
