Carol Thompson

1 month 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.

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.

2 months 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.

2 months 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.

Mar 20, 2025 | 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.