Latest news with #ChicagoLawn
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
With repeated flooding, Chicago alders call for action to prevent backflow into basements
Downpours Monday night left several streets flooded in Chicago, yet homeowners kept their fingers crossed that the rain would at least stay outside. The rain left people nervous in particular on the South and West sides. The threat of heavy rain makes them uneasy and worried that sewage will back up in their basement — a nasty sight they are tired of experiencing. Six aldermen agree it is time the city does something. The alleys of homes on California Avenue near 57th Street illustrated what neighbors in the Chicago Lawn and Gage Park communities have been experiencing. Mattresses and furniture sit outside garages. "I threw away all my furniture because I don't want mold," said Ismael Ruvalcaba. Ruvalcaba's basement was inundated with nearly 3 feet of water that rushed into his home from the weekend rains. "it's crazy. There's nothing I can do," Ruvalcaba said. "Doesn't matter if we got pumps or not. They don't help." But it is safe to say Ruvalcaba and his neighbors are looking for help — considering that this is the second time their homes ended up in such a state within three weeks. The cost keeps adding up. Ruvalcaba says he would estimate he has lost $10,000. Rubalcava has made his official 311 complaint to the city, and the CBS News investigative data team shows he's not alone. Since Sunday night, there were nearly 4,800 complaints for water in basements, and 287 complaints for water blocking streets. The five community areas most impacted are Chicago Lawn, Gage Park, West Lawn, Garfield Ridge, and Chatham. "When I talked to them, they said something is wrong with the sewer, but they don't know what's going on," said Ruvalcaba. Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) and five other Southwest Side councilmembers issued a letter to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on the subject. "And unfortunately, unless we figure out how to stop that water from backflowing in, that will continue to happen when we have a huge amount of rain dumped on our streets in a short amount of time," said Lopez. "Residents are scared. They're frustrated. They want answers." The alders are demanding the city do more than stand by and watch. They are insisting the city create a government-funded backflow valve installation program to prevent such flooding from recurring in people's homes. "The problem is none of us know," said Ald. Lopez. "We're not having a conversation with Water Reclamation, we're not having a conversation with our own water department, and we haven't been able to have a real conversation with the Mayor's office until today." The alders say action is needed because people like Ruvalcaba can't wait for possible federal funds. "So I need to do whatever I need to do," he said.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- CBS News
2 men with alleged ties to Venezuelan gang Tres de Aragua arrested for Chicago Lawn mass shooting, ICE says
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said they arrested two Venezuelan nationals with ties to the Tres de Aragua gang in connection with a Chicago mass shooting in December. Three people were killed and five more were injured in the shooting at birthday party at a home in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on Dec. 2, 2024. Police were called to the scene in the 3500-block of West 59th Street around 2:10 pm., where they found four men and four women between the ages of 20 and 35 with gunshot wounds. Three of the four men were killed. They were identified as 28-year-old Jon Carlos Blancarcer, 26-year-old Hector Sajo, and 32-year-old Osmer Angel Ferrer Oria. Edward Martinez Cermeno, 24, was arrested on Jan. 26 in Schaumburg and initially released following a federal detention hearing, the agency said. He was then arrested again by ICE agents in Chicago on administrative charges for being in the U.S. illegally. He is in federal custody facing criminal charges for allegedly illegally entering the U.S. near Eagle Pass, Texas, in 2023. ICE said they arrested Ricardo Granadillo Padilla, 25, on Feb. 8 in Raleigh, North Carolina. ICE said in January they seized multiple guns, high-capacity magazines, narcotics and fraudulent documents from his Chicago residence, and when he was arrested in Raleigh they seized a pistol and ammunition. Padilla remains in federal custody and was sentenced in March for illegally entering the U.S. near El Paso in 2022. CBS News Chicago has reached out to Chicago police for comment and to see if they plan to file any charges. Please note: The above video is from a previous report.
CBS News
19-05-2025
- CBS News
ATM stolen from business on Chicago's Southwest Side
A burglar stole an ATM from a business in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood early Monday morning, according to the Chicago Police Department. Chicago police said someone broke the front door of the business in the 5900 block of South Kedzie Avenue and removed an ATM. Video from the scene shows the front door of the business boarded up. Employees told CBS News Chicago multiple people broke in and then drove off in an SUV. It is not clear if the employees were working inside the store at the time of the burglary. Police do not have anyone in custody. More information was not immediately available.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Chicago shooting: Boy, 16, shot, injured on Southwest Side, police say
CHICAGO - A 16-year-old boy was shot and injured on Chicago's Southwest Side on Saturday morning. What we know The shooting happened in the 2700 block of West 64th Street in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood around 10:20 a.m., according to the Chicago Police Department. The boy was standing near the sidewalk when he was approached by an unknown offender who fired shots at him, police said. The victim was shot twice in the arm and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center. He was initially listed in good condition. No offenders are in custody. Area detectives are investigating.
