Latest news with #NicorGas
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
Parents say gas leak killed toddler, IL cops say, Now they're accused of murder
A 2-year-old girl was lying unresponsive on an ottoman as her dad performed chest compressions in an attempt to revive her, Illinois deputies said. She was taken to the hospital on Nov. 6 and died in the early hours of Nov. 7, the Will County Sheriff's Office said in a June 2 news release. Her 49-year-old father and 28-year-old mother said her death was caused by a gas leak in the home, officials said. However, Homer Township Fire and Nicor Gas found that there was no leak in the Homer Glen home, deputies said. The toddler's parents were indicted on first-degree murder charges on June 2 after the toddler's autopsy results revealed new evidence, the sheriff's office said. Deputies did not disclose the toddler's cause of death. In the home where the 2-year-old and her 6-year-old sister lived, authorities found 'deplorable living conditions' during their investigation, deputies said. Xanax pills littered the bedroom floor, and approximately 9 grams of heroin were found within reach of children, according to deputies. Investigators also found soiled diapers, rotting food and medical waste. Multiple doses of used Narcan were also found near where the 2-year-old girl was discovered in the home, authorities said. The parents were taken to the sheriff's office for questioning, and their 6-year-old daughter was placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, deputies said. At the time, the parents were charged with felonies and released, according to officials. Following their indictment on June 2, the couple was released on pretrial conditions, according to officials. Homer Glen is about a 40-mile drive southwest from downtown Chicago.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Homer Glen couple charged with first-degree murder in connection with 2-year-old daughter's death
WILL COUNTY, Ill. — The parents of a two-year-old girl who died under suspicious circumstances inside their Will County home in 2024 have been charged with first-degree murder. Police in Will County were called to the home of 49-year-old Edward Weiher and 28-year-old Alexa Balen, located in the 2200 block of West Thorn Apple Drive, just after 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2024, on reports of an unresponsive child and a possible carbon monoxide leak. When deputies arrived on the scene, they found Weiher, who owns the home, performing chest compressions on two-year-old Trinity Balen-Weiher on an ottoman in the living room. Balen and her six-year-old daughter were also inside the home. During the initial investigation, deputies say they spotted garbage, rotten food, soiled diapers and clothing, medical waste and evidence of significant drug use. Nine grams of heroin were found in the home, within reach of both children, police say. 21 Xanax pills were also on a bedroom floor and multiple doses of Narcan were located near the ottoman where the child was when police arrived. Trinity Balen-Weiher was taken to Silver Cross Hospital, where she died the next day. Homer Township Fire personnel and Nicor Gas confirmed there was no gas leak at the residence. Balen's six-year-old daughter was placed in protective custody and later released to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). According to the Will County Sheriff's Office, both Weiher and Balen made incriminating statements during interviews. They were arrested on initial felony charges and later released. However, an autopsy conducted by the Will County coroner shows new evidence that supports first-degree murder charges. Weiher and Balen appeared in court and were indicted on the new charges Monday. They have been released under pretrial conditions per the Illinois Safe-T Act. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man hospitalized after Cary home explodes; investigation underway
CARY, Ill. (WGN) – A man was injured after a home in Cary reportedly exploded Sunday afternoon. The Cary Fire Protection District said just after 1:30 p.m., crews were sent to the 6700 block of Pheasant Trail in unincorporated Cary for a reported house fire and possible explosion. When crews arrived, they found a single-family home with visible signs that it had exploded, as doors and windows had been blown of front and rear of the home. Smoke was also coming from multiple areas of the home, according to investigators. Fire erupts at Northwest Side school overnight Officials said a man, the only person inside the home at the time, was found on the ground outside the home and had significant burn injuries sustained as a result of the explosion. Due to the severity of the man's injuries, officials said a medical helicopter was requested to the scene, but no helicopters in the area were available, so an ambulance took the man to Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington for treatment. Firefighters got the fire under control just before 2:15 p.m., but the home and its contents are considered a total loss. No adjacent homes were damaged. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines The Cary Fire Protection District, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and Nicor Gas are all investigating the cause of the explosion and fire. Officials added natural gas may have played a role. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘People say enough is enough' — Citizens Utility Board fighting record-breaking gas rate hike
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — The largest gas rate hike in Illinois history could be coming soon. Nicor Gas submitted a major price hike request back in January — $309 million — and the ICC still has seven more months before it makes an official ruling. However, the Citizens Utility Board has remained consistent in its messaging against the request. Illinois Commerce Commission urges customers to enroll in new discount rates 'Consumer advocates argue that Nicor Gas's bid for a record-breaking rate hike is rife with excess and fat and is more than double what the company can possibly justify,' said Jim Chilsen, the CUB's Communications Director. If passed, it would raise average gas bills statewide by $7.50 a month, or $90 a year. 'People say enough is enough,' Chilsen said. 'And that's why we urge Illinois regulators to cut this rate hike by more than half.' Nicor has received a total of about $724 million in rate hikes since 2018: $93 million in 2018 $168 million in 2019 $240 million in 2021 $223 million in 2023. 'Excessive rate hikes are never good for consumers,' Chilsen said. 'We hear from Nicor Gas customers all the time who are having a hard time affording their bills because Nicor has been escalating bills over the last decade.' Illinois AG wins court order supporting libraries, museums, minority-owned businesses In a statement to WCIA 3, a spokesperson for Nicor Gas said the following: It's a fact that natural gas is more than three times more affordable than other energy sources and is projected to be 30% to 50% less than other fuels through 2050. We believe that every customer deserves reliable energy service at a price they can afford. Many Americans are facing challenging times, and no one wants to see rising energy bills. We want our customers to understand their bills and why the company is requesting to adjust rates that would allow Nicor Gas to meet those energy demands — especially during extreme weather — while helping make homes more efficient and providing energy assistance.' Nicole Frett, Nicor spokesperson A decision on this issue is expected in November. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
06-03-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Fire destroys magnesium factory in Dixmoor, crews work to secure area, monitor air quality
A large fire broke out Wednesday night at a magnesium factory in Dixmoor, causing significant damage to the facility, officials said. Crews were at the scene Thursday to assess the damage, ensure no new fires sparked and monitor air quality. Most of the damage was visible at the back of the Chicago Magnesium Casting Co., 14101 Seeley Ave. Nicor Gas crews were on site and warned an unstable wall in the back of the facility posed a safety hazard and is at risk of collapse. Chicago Magnesium was founded in 1953 as an aluminum and sand casting foundry specializing in aerospace, according to the company's website. The company produces castings for helicopters, jet fighters, jumbo transports and regional jets, serving both military and commercial sectors, the website states. Magnesium is highly flammable and can ignite easily under certain conditions, making it challenging for crews to control the blaze, crews said. The Blue Island Fire Department, along with several neighboring departments, responded to the fire early Thursday morning, according to a Facebook post from the city of Blue Island. The post, made about 8 a.m., said there were no injuries and the fire had been contained. At the factory, managers at Chicago Magnesium were evaluating the damage but declined to comment until the full extent was assessed. None of the company's employees was on-site during the fire, Chicago Magnesium said in a Facebook post. 'While we do not have all the answers yet, we are committed to providing updates and transparent communication as we navigate this challenging situation,' the company wrote. 'We are actively working with the relevant authorities and agencies to ensure that this tragedy causes as little disruption as possible to our employees, customers and the local community.' Jeff Wawczack, an on-scene coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said three air quality monitors were set up and crews were on the scene all morning to test the air. Wawczack said the air quality has remained within acceptable or safe levels, without any dangerous levels of pollutants, as of Thursday afternoon. Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts said there were multiple explosions caused by the fire that rocked nearby homes. 'This was a dangerous fire but thanks to the courage and capable work of the Posen Fire Department, there was no loss of life,' Roberts said in a news release. 'This could have been a much worse situation especially in light of the fact that a train was blocking access for firefighters to reach the fire.' Roberts said the fire highlights the importance of replacing aging water pipes, as the pressure from fighting the fire caused water main breaks across from the magnesium plant and another break on 139th Street. 'Having access to a reliable and stable water supply not only is important for everyday life, but it also is extremely important in the event of emergencies like the one we had last night,' Roberts said. 'The need to continue the work we are doing to fix our water pipes really is a matter of life and death.'
