Matthew Cramer

2 weeks ago | cbsnews.com | Jermont Terry |Matthew Cramer

The Will County Sheriff's arrested a Chicago Heights, Illinois city employee a few weeks ago on six counts of possession and sale of child pornography. Court records show Will County officials arrested Jasen Zurisk after searching his Beecher, Illinois, home a few weeks ago. CBS News Chicago has confirmed Zurisk works as the maintenance director of south suburban Chicago Heights. CBS News Chicago reached out to Chicago Heights city officials, who would not comment on Zurisk's work status.

2 weeks ago | cbsnews.com | Jermont Terry |Matthew Cramer

Video on Tuesday showed flames erupting from a U-Haul facility in the south Chicago suburb of Dolton. Some responding firefighters could only watch. The fire broke out Tuesday morning at the U-Haul facility at 1330 E. 142nd St. in Dolton, according to the office of Dolton Mayor-elect Jason House. The video shows the truss roof collapsing as the flames consume the building. Amazingly, no one was hurt in the massive fire. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze and extinguish the flames.

2 months ago | cbsnews.com | Adam Harrington |Matthew Cramer

The Arlington Heights, Illinois Fire Department on Tuesday released its final report on a garbage truck explosion that injured two police officers and a firefighter back in December. Fire officials believe the improper disposal of a lithium-ion battery may have been to blame. "We can't prove it, but there's a very high suspicion that this fire was started because of improper of a lithium-ion battery in a recycling bag," Arlington Heights Fire Chief Lance Harris said Tuesday.

Jan 28, 2025 | cbsnews.com | Adam Harrington |Matthew Cramer

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 67-year-old woman was in critical condition late Tuesday after an apartment building fire the night before on the city's Near North Side. The fire broke out in a building in the 100 block of West Oak Street, off Clark Street. Firefighters and police were called to the scene at 8:26 p.m. Monday, according to police. CBS News Chicago was told the woman was helped out of the building by a witness, and she was then rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for smoke inhalation.

Jan 15, 2025 | cbsnews.com | Adam Harrington |Matthew Cramer

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo—a seal and a flamingo—died of bird flu last week, the zoo announced Wednesday. The Chilean flamingo, Teal, died Wednesday, Jan. 8. The harbor seal, Slater, died the following day. "This is sad news for wildlife and for the zoo team. Not only are we facing the first known cases of HPAI in animals in our care, but we've lost two amazing animals," Dr. Kathryn Gamble, the Lester E.