Carol Thompson

Chicago

Special Projects Producer at CBS News

Mother first, journalist second, always a tea lover and eternal optimist. Tips? [email protected]

Articles

IRS electronic payment system delays mean some taxpayers are getting bills for taxes already paid

2 days ago | cbsnews.com | Tara Molina |Carol Thompson

Some taxpayers who paid their taxes by the April 15 deadlines are getting notices telling them they still owe money, all because of delays with the IRS electronic payment system. Some of the people impacted have also said they've found it impossible to get through to the IRS for help.
Ohio sisters find answers about their missing brother in Chicago after nearly two decades

2 weeks ago | cbsnews.com | Carol Thompson |Darius Johnson

Vilmarilys "Lilly" Hernandez and her sister had been looking for their brother Jean Eli Gonzalez since he went missing in September 2007. "He was the one always like trying to make everybody laugh," said Lilly. They held onto hope for nearly 18 years and prayed their brother was still alive. "Maybe he's cold. Maybe he's hungry," Lilly said.
Emails reveal missing materials, staff shortages, renovation delays at mental health facility contributed to patient's death

2 weeks ago | cbsnews.com | Carol Thompson |Dorothy Tucker

Renovation delays, other issues at mental health facility contributed to patient's death Anthony Stringfellow Jr., 19, tied a shoelace to the raised bolt of a hinge on his bathroom door at Madden Mental Health Center in Chicago's western suburbs on Feb. 7, 2023. A recently hired mental health technician who was only working that day to cover a staffing shortage found Anthony and tried to save his life.
How National Weather Service staffing shortages are already making weather forecasts worse

3 weeks ago | cbsnews.com | David Yeomans |Carol Thompson

There are 122 National Weather Service (NWS) offices nationwide, each of which performs critical lifesaving duties every day from issuing tornado warnings to keeping airplanes out of hazardous weather. But many NWS offices are now short-staffed, following recent Department of Government Efficiency-ordered staff cuts and voluntary early retirements. CBS News Chicago found that scaled-back services are already making weather forecasts from your phone to your television less accurate.
The other side of SNAP fraud: Illinois retailer accuses fraudsters of targeting store using stolen numbers from across country

1 month ago | cbsnews.com | Dorothy Tucker |Carol Thompson

Since the beginning of 2025, several people have reported their SNAP benefit cards were used to buy items at a small Lombard retailer in online reviews on Yelp and Google. Now, the owner of Alsham Supermarket and Bakery is speaking to the CBS News Chicago Investigators to clear his name and rebuild his reputation. SNAP FraudEarlier this year, we reported on the extent of SNAP fraud on Illinois recipients. Thieves stole $21 million between October 2022 and December 2024.
Trekkie license plate puzzler: Tickets from Chicago connected to grandmother in New York who has no car and doesn't drive

1 month ago | cbsnews.com | Carol Thompson |Dorothy Tucker

In October 2024, automated enforcement cameras in Chicago caught a dark-colored Nissan Sentra with New York Plate NCC1701 speeding along Kedzie Avenue through Marquette Park and running a red light at 79th and Halsted streets in Auburn Gresham. The plates came back to a woman who lives in Long Island, New York. The only problem is that woman doesn't drive any longer and has not owned a car registered to that license plate since 2020.
Why was Crestwood, Illinois police officer with troubled history allowed to resign after DUI?

1 month ago | cbsnews.com | Sara Machi |Carol Thompson

Crestwood, Illinois police officer accused of DUI had troubled historty A Crestwood, Illinois police officer recently charged with his second DUI has a troubled history in many other respects. CBS News Chicago obtained personnel files for Crestwood police Officer Christopher Spencer, who has since resigned from his department. The files show issues involving the mistreatment of women and a state fraud investigation — as well as the two drunken driving incidents.
Millions of dollars stolen in Illinois SNAP benefits fraud, leaving vulnerable families at risk

2 months ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Carol Thompson

Scammers stole tens of millions of dollars from Illinois families and taxpayers in just over two years, a new report sent to state legislators revealed. Food benefits fraud continues into 2025, even though stolen benefits are no longer being reimbursed . "I checked the balance of the EBT card. Seven cents was on it," one recent victim wrote. "My family and I can't buy groceries this month," wrote another.
Millions of dollars stolen in Illinois SNAP benefits fraud, leaving vulnerable families at risk

2 months ago | cbsnews.com | Carol Thompson |Dorothy Tucker

Scammers stole tens of millions of dollars from Illinois families and taxpayers in just over two years, a new report sent to state legislators revealed. Food benefits fraud continues into 2025, even though stolen benefits are no longer being reimbursed. "I checked the balance of the EBT card. Seven cents was on it," one recent victim wrote. "My family and I can't buy groceries this month," wrote another.
Grieving mother demands answers after son died in a state mental health facility

2 months ago | krdo.com | Dorothy Tucker |Carol Thompson

By Dorothy Tucker, Carol ThompsonClick here for updates on this story CHICAGO (WBBM) — On Feb. 7, 2023, 19-year-old Anthony Stringfellow Jr. died by suicide at a state mental health facility in Hines, Illinois west of Chicago. “Anthony was awesome. He loved his family,” Athena Webster said of her son. “He loved life.”Webster is now demanding answers to many questions about the four days her son spent inside the facility that was supposed to save his life.

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A new CBS Chicago Investigation that got results fast! A major grocer caught overcharging customers for the city's bag tax. #taxes #overcharges #investigation https://t.co/srVSiOmXkP

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Carol Thompson

Articles

IRS electronic payment system delays mean some taxpayers are getting bills for taxes already paid

Ohio sisters find answers about their missing brother in Chicago after nearly two decades

Emails reveal missing materials, staff shortages, renovation delays at mental health facility contributed to patient's death

How National Weather Service staffing shortages are already making weather forecasts worse

The other side of SNAP fraud: Illinois retailer accuses fraudsters of targeting store using stolen numbers from across country

Trekkie license plate puzzler: Tickets from Chicago connected to grandmother in New York who has no car and doesn't drive

Why was Crestwood, Illinois police officer with troubled history allowed to resign after DUI?

Millions of dollars stolen in Illinois SNAP benefits fraud, leaving vulnerable families at risk

Millions of dollars stolen in Illinois SNAP benefits fraud, leaving vulnerable families at risk

Grieving mother demands answers after son died in a state mental health facility

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Emails

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