Latest news with #CBSNewsChicago
CBS News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Chicago expert raises alarm as U.S. EPA seeks to walk back greenhouse gas regulations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday announced it plans to walk back a declaration in the Clean Air Act that determined greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. The U.S. EPA declined CBS News Chicago's request for an interview. But the Illinois EPA said it reviewing the proposal to rescind the declaration issued back in 2009 under President Barack Obama. Meanwhile, climate experts in Illinois and around the country are concerned about the ramifications. Lee Zeldin, President Trump's pick to head the U.S. EPA, announced Tuesday from an Indiana auto dealership that the agency wants to repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding. "If finalized, today's announcement would amount to the largest deregulatory action in the history of the United States," Zeldin said, "a proposal to eliminate to the endangerment finding, to eliminate greenhouse gas standards — all the regulations that came out, including the electric vehicle mandates, all of the greenhouse gas standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty." The 2009 finding that Zeldin is proposing eliminating determined that six specific greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) — endangered public health and welfare. The finding set the platform for actions to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. "it's the fundamental linchpin of the Clean Air Act," said Howard Learner, chief executive officer and executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center. Learner called the U.S. EPA proposal a denial of both climate change and "fact-based determinations" about greenhouse gases. "Climate change is real. It's happening," he said. "That can't be denied as a basis of scientific fact." Learner said the impact in the Chicago area and elsewhere in Illinois would be dirtier air and more contributions to climate change. "It's showing up in our weather. It's showing up in health risks. It's showing up in the Great Lakes. It's showing up in ways that change our lives here in Chicago and across Illinois," Learner said. In a news release, the U.S. EPA said the 2009 finding paved the way for electric vehicle mandates, and led to "significant uncertainties and massive costs" for the American people and automakers related to "general regulations of greenhouse gases from vehicles and trucks." The proposal, according to the EPA release, would remove all greenhouse gas standards for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles and heavy-duty engines, starting with the EPA's first greenhouse gas regulations set under the order in 2010, and including "off-cycle credits like the much-hated start-stop feature on most new cars." CBS News Chicago asked if Zeldin's proposal could also eliminate vehicle emissions tests in Illinois. The Illinois EPA said it is too early to say, while Learner said this is the time the state can make a difference. "We're going to be looking for Illinois to step up to make sure people here have healthier, clean air," said Learner. The news release said if finalized, the proposal is expected to save Americans $54 billion in costs through the repeal of all greenhouse gas standards — including the Biden EPA's electric vehicle mandate. "If Congress wants to amend Section 202 of the Clean Air Act and tell us that they want us to be regulating the heck out of carbon dioxide, methane, and these other greenhouse gases, then we will follow the law," said Zeldin. The U.S. EPA proposal is not a done deal yet. "We'll go through a public comment period," Zeldin said. "We'll see what the American public has to say about everything that we put out right now — on all of this." The public comment period on this starts now and will last 45 days. Meanwhile, environmental groups are expected to take the U.S. EPA to court to challenge the rule.
CBS News
21 hours ago
- CBS News
Oak Brook, Illinois police drone up and flying, and helping police fight crime
CBS News Chicago was first to report on police drones coming to the west Chicago suburb of Oak Brook, and a drone is now up, flying, and responding to calls. The drone flies 50 mph through the air at 400 feet, and is deployed from the roof of the Oak Brook Fire Department as soon as a 911 call is made. It serves as an eye in the sky before police can get to a scene, and has already helped police crack down on crimes. "We can get from one side of the town to the other in about a minute and a half, so it's beating our officers to almost every call it's dispatched to," said Oak Brook police Chief Brian Strockis. Oak Brook police have named the drone Blu. CBS News Chicago watched as it responded to an attempted car theft. "This offender had reprogramming equipment and was trying to break into a car," Strockis said. "He kind of ran around a building and ducked into a bush, and the officers ran right by him. But the drone operator was able to relay he was in that bush area." Strockis is leading the Oak Brook police drone program. It has been live for about two months now, and it is the first of its kind in the state. "We've seen a decrease in response time for our officers getting to calls," Strockis said. But Oak Brook police may not be the only ones using the technology for long. "I think we are really going to see it really blow up here in DuPage County, and have other agencies jump on board," said Strockis. In another recent incident, the drone responded to a burglary call. It captured the suspect running into a wooded area before police arrived. Video from the drone, fed live to officers in real time, helped them find and arrest him. Some do have questions about privacy with the drone. "We are not out there surveilling people," said Strockis. CBS News Chicago asked the company behind the tech, Flock Safety, to address concerns associated with such drone technology. "We've baked in these privacy protections, so that we're making sure there's accountability, there's transparency, there's oversight of this entire system. It's only being as law enforcement purposes as intended," Flock Safety spokeswoman Holly Beilin said in March. "Until the drone gets to the scene, when it's just flying to get to the scene, that camera is facing straight ahead." The DuPage County State's Attorney's office is also on board, with footage from the Oak Brook drone being used in court. With a new school year coming, Butler School District Supt. Paul O'Malley is getting involved too. "When seconds count the police are minutes away," said O'Malley. "With that drone, when seconds count the drone is on its way." The school district is incorporating the police drone into the district's safety plan for the upcoming school year. "It shares with the community we are ahead of any potential threats that could come into the school, and what's important is we want to be ahead of it, not behind it," said O'Malley. That is what Oak Brook police said their drone, Blu, is doing — getting to scenes first, and helping keep the community and those policing it safer. In some cases, the drone is eliminating the need for police chases that can be dangerous. "To have so many deployments, like we've had, and to major incidents where we're making arrests because of the drone that we wouldn't have otherwise had the opportunity to make — I think that shows it's paid off already," Strockis said.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Chicago weekend shootings leave 1 dead, 8 wounded, according to police
At least one other person was killed and eight others were wounded in weekend shootings across Chicago as of Saturday. The ages of the victims range from 6 to 50. In the first shooting of the weekend, a 20-year-old man was shot in his lower leg just before 6 p.m. in the 1400 block of South Kedvale Avenue. He was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in good condition. Police said they were unable to locate the crime scene. Later in the evening, around 9:35 p.m., a 6-year-old boy was shot while inside a vehicle in the 3700 block of West 59th Place. According to police, the child was a passenger in the vehicle when someone inside a westbound white SUV shot at the vehicle, hitting the boy in the backside. He was taken to Christ Hospital in good condition. In other shootings from 5 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Unless otherwise noted, no arrests were made in either incident. CBS News Chicago will continue to update throughout the weekend.
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Man shot in Arlington Heights, Illinois
A man was shot in suburban Arlington Heights early Friday morning. According to the Cook County Sheriff's Office, police responded to a 911 call for a person shot in the 3900 block of Galesburg Avenue around 3:20 a.m. Officials said the man was shot in the face, and officers conducted life-saving measures on the scene. He was taken to a local hospital, and his condition is unknown at this time. Video from the scene shows a police investigation in front of a house, possibly focused on a car in a driveway. The circumstances surrounding the shooting were not immediately released. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Sheriff's Police detectives at 708-865-4896. This is a developing story. CBS News Chicago will continue to provide updates.
Time Out
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Time Out
A new Chicago social club lets you scream out all of your frustrations every Sunday night
With meetings scheduled weekly at North Avenue Beach pier, Scream Club Chicago is the respite you've been searching for. Whether you're looking to release some tension among peers, or you just want to know what all the hubbub is about along Lake Michigan, keep reading to learn more. Every Sunday at 7pm, at golden hour no less, a group of Chicagoans meets to practice breathing exercises, culminating with a collective yawp, a howl, bellow, caterwaul, yelp, or whoop along the waterfront. And, as you might imagine, life feels a bit lighter and freer afterward. Is it a quirky endeavor? Yes. Is this out-of-the-box thinking just the prescription you might need for today's stresses? Maybe. But what do you have to lose? An initiative started by Manny Hernande, a breath-work coach, Scream Club Chicago is an outlet for many Chicagoans who are looking to relieve stress in a healthy way. Connecting with others in the outdoors, while gazing at beautiful Lake Michigan, can't hurt either. Hernande used social media to grow a network of screamers, and the weekly sessions are growing in reputation. "What's bringing me back out here really is that there are things I'm ready to let go of that I finally have an outlet where I can get it out of my system," said participant Alexaner Ruvalcaba to CBS News Chicago. Forget screaming into your pillow, alone in your apartment, or, gasp, holding everything inside, which we all know is a recipe for disaster. Instead, you can join neighbors, of all ages and backgrounds, and participate in a community activity that is meant to leave you feeling as relaxed as you would if you had just finished a yoga or meditation class. "I think this is a good way for us to be able to, in a healthy way, release whatever we have going inside out into the void," said Hernandez to CBS News. The best part? These weekly—loud—screaming sessions are offered free of charge. Now that's truly something to scream about.
