Latest news with #WGNNews
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Semi-truck rollover crash on I-55 is fatal, ISP says
DARIEN, Ill. (WGN) — Drivers face significant delays following a rollover crash involving a semi-truck on Interstate-55 Friday afternoon. SkyCam 9 flew above the scene of I-55 southbound near mile marker 273 at Cass Avenue in Darien. ISP said the DuPage County-area crash occurred just before 12:30 p.m. While details on the crash remain limited, ISP troopers confirmed to WGN News that the wreck resulted in a fatality. Lane closures continue as ISP investigates. This story will be updated when more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘In crisis mode': CACC warns of pet drop-offs as daily line keeps getting longer
CHICAGO — Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) is in 'crisis mode' after seeing their daily in-take line grow over the course of the year. Sadly, pets given up by their owners are more likely to die than strays. Social media has been one of the biggest tools in its toolboxes for shelters all across the country and CACC used it Wednesday to highlight a daily reality for them — long lines of pets getting dropped off. 'The sad truth is the owner releases are the first ones on the 'chopping block,'' CACC public information officer Armando Tejeda told WGN News. The shelter is averaging in May around 56 animals being surrendered per day, up from 54 in April. Some are strays, but many are owners giving up their pets. Data shows this has increased and CACC has been reeling. Tejeda said they have been speaking with other large city shelters and they are experiencing the same thing. 'Most of it is the economy — the cost of pet food, vet appointments, other stuff,' Tejeda said. 'A lot of people truly love their pets but they just don't know about all of the resources out there.' So CACC put together a resource guide in hopes of giving the animals a second chance. Pet Resources_2025 (1)Download Their current euthanasia rate is around 11% and the reason why pets surrendered are more likely to get euthanized is because they lack protections versus strays. 'When a stray comes in they are required cage space by law,' Tejeda said. ' So five to seven days if they have no microchip and seven if they have a microchip.' The pandemic was a tough time for CACC and shelters across the world, but now staff is seeing an after effect — a dog and cat boom. 'One of the drugs used to sedate animals during COVID went to humans so way less spay and neuters were not happening,' Tejeda. 'It's felt like we've been playing catch up (to the pandemic) but now it's been compounded by what's happening now.' Data shows in the first quarter of the year (Jan-March), 1,410 pets were surrendered by their owners compared to 1,843 animals being took in as strays. Over 500 had to be euthanized as the shelter is 'in crisis mode' due to being at max capacity. Looking at the first quarter of 2024, CACC had far less pet drop offs — 383. CACC said the euthanasia rate should be higher when you look at the data, but they have so many wonderful rescue organizations who partner with them. But they still need a lot of help. 'We will face even a greater influx in the summer once the weather gets warm,' Tejeda said. 'In-takes have been steadily increasing. We usually see a lot of pit bulls, but now it's everything.' The shelter recently installed a microchip station for lost dogs and cats outside of CACC. It has made employees happy to be able to look outside and see the animal never having to come in. All adoption fees of animals at CACC 30 days or longer are waived. For 30 days or less, it's just $65 and the animals are up to date on shots. Interested residents can also try out the 'doggy day care' program, where you can spend an afternoon with a dog to get to know them. Visit here to adopt a pet or learn how to foster. Below are a select few available out of hundreds of cute dogs and cats. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man, teen accused of beating woman at suburban McDonald's over sexual orientation
CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. — A man and teen are accused of severely beating a woman over her sexual orientation at a suburban McDonald's. Police responded to a report of a fight in progress at a McDonald's, located in the 1660 block of South Kennedy Drive, on May 13. Authorities allege John Kammrad, 19, of Elgin, and a juvenile boy made derogatory remarks about a woman's sexual orientation. The incident escalated into a fight, according to police. The woman, Kady Grass, took to GoFundMe and posted pictures of her injuries. She was transported to a local hospital in serious condition, where she was released. Charging documents acquired by WGN News accused Kammrad of delivering a series of punches and kicks to Grass. He was out on pre-trial release for unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle in DuPage County on April 8. He was taken into custody in Kane County on Saturday after the juvenile turn himself into police the following day. Kammrad is back in custody of DuPage County after his pre-trial release was revoked as a result of the alleged attack, according to prosecutors. A pre-trial hearing in Kane County for the alleged attack will not take place, according to the prosecutor's office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago area food pantries brace for SNAP funding cuts
CHICAGO (WGN) — With the passing of President Donald Trump's major budget bill, which includes an estimated $300 million cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as 'SNAP,' local food pantries told WGN News that they are bracing for the impact. The U.S. House of Representatives' passing of the bill dubbed 'big' and 'beautiful' means the need for resources will rise, said John Dumas, administrative director with the Share Food, Share Love food pantry in Brookfield. 'We are facing a situation where we believe there is going to be a significant rise in demand, but there isn't going to be food made available to us,' Dumas said. House Republicans pass Trump's big bill of tax breaks and program cuts after all-night session For the last 10 years, the Brookfield-area food pantry has helped people in the neighborhood and its 14 surrounding communities. 'Right now we're helping about 600 families a month,' Dumas said. 'Some are individuals but primarily, it's families—75% of those 600 work. I know there's a lot of perception that these are folks that are just sitting around, are lazy, and don't want to work, so they come and get free food, and that is not all of what we experience. These are folks that work but don't make enough money to cover the expenses that they incur.' It's a call for help that Dumas predicts will rise if the bill passes the Senate following its House of Representatives passage. The bill would extend tax cuts and cut other social programs, like SNAP. As of February, data obtained by WGN News shows 42 million Americans received SNAP benefits. 'We have folks that are facing challenges with sobriety and things. Are they going to lose benefits for their counseling?' Dumas asked. 'We know that some folks are in the midst of recovery, and now, are they going to lose those benefits? We just don't know the answers to that yet.' The bill cuts roughly $300 billion from the program over the next ten years, directly impacting funding for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which helps fill the shelves of local food banks. US is ending penny production: How will you be impacted? 'About 80% of what you see on these shelves comes from them,' Dumas said. In a statement, the Greater Chicago Food Depository said: This bill is a giant step backwards in efforts to create healthy, hunger-free communities. We implore the Senate to reject these devastating recommendations and vote NO on any bill that contains cuts to SNAP.' Statement provided by the Greater Chicago Food Depository 'This shouldn't be a political or partisan issue,' Dumas added. The Share Food, Share Love food pantry says it will continue its mission to the best of its ability. Food donations and monetary donations are accepted and encouraged. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Farming anxieties rise among Illinoisans as trade war affects crop exports
CHICAGO (WGN) — It's springtime in northeast Illinois, and Lake County farmer Andy Yarc is on the clock. That means planting season is upon Illinoisans, and for Yarc, it is like Christmas in May, as farming is in his blood. 'We do have a short window usually in the spring when I start planting,' Yarc said. 'It's usually about a month, and then harvest is about two.' Tariffs are affecting port traffic Yarc is a full-time firefighter in Libertyville, but when he's not rushing to burning structures, he enjoys watching plants grow—and he comes from good farming stock. 'I basically picked that career because I wanted to have a farmer schedule with the schedule of a firefighter paramedic,' Yarc said. 'I was able to keep farming.' Yarc is a fourth-generation farmer. 'My great-grandfather started the farm in 1946,' he said. Agrarian life always has its ups and downs. Will the weather cooperate? Will the plants grow? Will people buy the commodity, and at what price? So, uncertainty is part of the trade. 'I guess that anxiety starts with, 'They're not going to be able to make enough money to feed their families with a professional farm,'' said Yarc, whose crops include corn and soybeans. While the corn is homegrown, Yarc told WGN News he exports most of his soybeans. China, he adds, is his biggest customer. But the current trade war is jeopardizing those efforts. 'Our goal as producers is open trade,' Yarc said, adding that free markets for farmers are paramount. In the case of the U.S., foreign countries use tariffs, which are taxes imposed on imported American-made goods or services. When President Donald Trump took office, he started imposing reciprocal tariffs, which caused financial markets to begin an up-and-down cycle. In recent days, the Trump administration said it would reduce the 145% duties it had imposed on imports from China to 30%, while China said it would cut its 125% tariffs on U.S. goods to 10%. Some U.S. tariffs—24 percentage points—will be delayed for 90 days while negotiations continue. China is the biggest consumer of American soybeans. Thus, the uncertainty of what may come worries farmers nationwide. Andrew Larson is with the Illinois Soybean Association, which represents 43,000 farmers in Illinois. Lake County has over 300 working farms, mainly growing soybeans and corn. According to the Farm Bureau, 94% of them are family-owned. Larson laments that China needs U.S. farmers as much as Americans need the humongous consumer market. 'China has, I don't know the number, but a boatload of people, and they can't produce enough food for their people,' he said. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines It's why Larson is asking President Trump and his team to implement an agreement that both sides find beneficial and satisfactory. 'They need us. We need them,' Larson said. 'We just got to get something worked out.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
