Latest news with #CookCounty
CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Congressman Danny Davis to announce he won't run for re-election, sources say
Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL), who represents downtown Chicago, parts of the South and West sides, and many western suburbs, will not be running for re-election in 2026. Sources confirmed to CBS News Chicago that Davis will retire at the end of his 30th year in office next year. He'll make a formal announcement of his decision on Thursday. At age 83, only eight of the 435 members of the House of Representatives are older than Davis. The road to becoming a political staple began in 1979, when Davis became a member of the Chicago city Council, spending 11 years representing the 29th Ward on the West Side. In 1990, he waged his first successful campaign for the Cook County Board of Commissioners. After winning a second term in 1994, and in 1996 he ran for Congress, winning the 7th District seat vacated by Cardiss Collins, who he had unsuccessfully challenged twice in the 1980s, and would go on to win 14 more terms in Congress. As he geared up for his last race in 2024, he was asked how he would respond to people who might say it's time for a fresh set of eyes in Congress. "I'm not running to be the quarterback for the Chicago Bears," Davis said. "My legs may not be the same, but my mind is great." Sources said Davis has made up his mind to hang it up after he finishes his 30th year in Congress next year, joining a tidal wave of change in Illinois' Congressional delegation. In addition to Davis stepping down, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) also is retiring after his term. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Congresswoman Robin Kelly Davis (D-IL) are giving up their seats in the House so that they can run for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). "I think there are probably 30 people running for Congress, at least, in the Chicagoland area," said Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL). Inevitably, that number will grow. Former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin already declared he's running for Davis' seat. Illinois State Rep La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) is expected to run with Davis' endorsement. Recently retired Ald. Walter Burnett Jr and Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner also could enter the race, though Burnett is also on Mayor Brandon Johnson's list of possible replacements for the CEO at the Chicago Housing Authority. As for Davis, colleagues said he'll be remembered for his stance on voting rights, affordable healthcare, criminal justice reform, social justice, and civil rights. "Provided leadership to their constituencies that will be very hard to replace," said Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL). "An upright and morally conscious guy, you know? We'll see what happens next, but we're lucky to serve with him," Casten said.
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Extreme rain events are becoming more common in the Chicago area as the climate warms
Extreme rainfall events in Chicago, including two observed this summer, are becoming more common as the climate warms. Very small, localized thunderstorms brought intense rains to parts of Chicago on both July 8 and July 25. While data analysis of the more recent July rainfall event is ongoing, National Weather Service Senior Service Hydrologist Scott Lincoln tells CBS News Chicago that the 5 inches of rain that fell in less than three hours July 8 only has a 0.2% chance of happening in a given year. This would once have been referred to as a 1-in-500 year rainfall event, but the NWS now avoids that phrasing since there is no guarantee it will be another 500 years before it happens again. Late in the evening on July 8, a very localized, torrential thunderstorm sat over portions of central Cook County west of the Loop on the Eisenhower Expressway. Parts of the Near West Side, North Lawndale, the United Center, West Garfield Park and East Garfield Park experienced extreme rainfall, with one unofficial rain gauge tallying 5.39 inches in just two hours. "Comparing this event to our record of extreme rainfall events impacting the Chicago area since 1950 indicates that this is among the smallest recorded extreme rainfall events over that period, covering only an approximately three square mile area," Lincoln said. As global climate change warms Chicago area temperatures, it is leading to heavier rainfall events. For every one degree of warming, the atmosphere holds 4% more moisture. The heaviest rain events in the Great Lakes region have gotten 45% heavier since 1958, according to Climate Central. This is impacting Chicago's water infrastructure and flooding basements more often. "As of July 8, 2025, the 2020s decade has had four extreme rainfall events in central Cook County," Lincoln said. "Compared to the the 1950s, 2000s, and 2010s which each had two known extreme rainfall events within that same area." Lincoln noted rain gauge observations were not as widespread prior to the 1990s, potentially affecting historical data collection. "Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the threshold for 'extreme rainfall' in the Chicago area is changing," Lincoln said. "Analysis of daily rainfall in Chicago indicated that 'extreme' 1-day rainfall early in Chicago's history (1871-1930) was approximately 6 inches, while this value increased to just over 8 inches in more recent times (1961-2020)." More detailed studies of rainfall frequency indicate a heavy rain event that has a 1% chance of occurring in a given year — once called a 1-in-100 year event — has gotten heavier. A NOAA publication indicated a 100-year event was 5.6 inches of rain in the late 1950s. An Illinois State Water Survey publication shows it has increased to 8.6 inches as of the late 2010s.
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Chicago weather today includes flash flooding possibility as strong storms with heavy rain move through
A Flood Watch has been issued for the Chicago area as a line of thunderstorm races east, bringing heavy lightning and torrential rainfall. There is a threat of flash flooding with these storms that originated to the west and are moving east-northeast at about 25 miles per hour. This round of thunderstorms will be followed by another round of less severe, but equally rainy, storms Wednesday afternoon, with rain continuing overnight and into Thursday morning. A Flood Watch is in effect for Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Kankakee, La Salle, Lake, Livingston and McHenry counties in Illinois and Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties in Indiana until 1 p.m. Thursday. A Flood Advisory is in effect for Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston and Will counties until 3:45 p.m. The first line of storms, that developed to the west around 11 a.m., have brought torrential rainfall and a huge amount of lightning, with over 300 strikes recorded around noon in one cell alone. Lightning frequency is measured in 10 minute increments, so that means that cell is producing around 30 strikes per minute or one lightning strike every other second. The storms also have the potential for wind gusts over 40 miles per hour. See the latest 7-day forecast from our First Alert Weather team The path of the first round of storms has changed slightly, riding a boundary of higher atmospheric energy from Channahon to Park Forest, so the worst of the storm is now excepted to stay south of the city of Chicago. After these storms have left the area, another round of storms is expected to develop. They are not expected to be severe in a widespread way, but could be stronger along the I-80 corridor into Northwest Indiana. These storms are expected between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., and will also bring heavy rain. That rain continues overnight and into Thursday morning as a cold front arrives, breaking the oppressive heat and humidity and gives way to a much cooler and nicer weekend. Temperatures will start falling into the 70s by mid-afternoon Wednesday. There is also a Beach Hazards Statement in place for all beaches along Lake Michigan from 1 p.m. Wednesday through 4 p.m. Friday. High waves and dangerous rip currents make the lake a hazard for boaters and swimmers alike, so it is advised to stay out of the water. While rain will end by Thursday morning and is not forecast over the weekend for Lollapalooza, festivalgoers should plan on getting muddy if they're going to be there tomorrow. Once the storms have passed, highs in the 70s or low 80s and sunny skies are forecast through Monday.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to sign law streamlining FOID cards for lowest-level gun offenders
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is expected to sign a bill into law Monday that will make it easier for the state's lowest-level gun offenders to obtain a firearm ID card. The laws, which was passed with bipartisan support at the end of the spring legislative session, allows people who have been arrested for the least severe charges of possessing a gun without a license to complete diversion programs that are alternatives to prosecution. After the programs are completed, and the felony case is officially dropped, Illinois State Police would grant that individual a firearm owner's identification, or FOID, card if they choose to apply and pass the background check. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office said the way current Illinois law is structured prevents state police from starting the process of the FOID card and background check until after the felony case is officially dropped, which can take months after the diversion program is complete. The new law allows state police to start the application and background check in the interim between completing the programs and the official dropping of the charges. The state's attorney's office said the law benefits people who own guns for protection or for sport, and who may have moved to Illinois after purchasing a gun legally in another state, especially ones with looser gun regulation and open carry laws, who have not realized Illinois gun laws would require them to get a FOID card and concealed carry licenses. "It's two very different approaches to gun crimes because they're treated very differently under the law," Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke said in June. "The goal is to get as many people into compliance with the regulation as possible, while at the same time addressing the very real threat that automatic weapons pose."
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Cook County Crime Stoppers offering $1,000 reward for information in fatal hit-and-run of Marcella Herrera
Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information in the hit-and-run crash that left a woman dead and her fiancé seriously injured in Pilsen earlier this month. On July 19, Marcella Herrera, 22, was just getting off work and was walking with her fiancé on the 1900 block of South Ashland Avenue when an SUV hit them in the middle of the crosswalk. The driver fled the scene in an unknown direction without stopping to render aid. A witness said she was driving behind an SUV at the intersection of Ashland and Cullerton late Saturday night. That's when the car sped past her and hit the couple as they were in the middle of the crosswalk. Paul Rutherford, Chairman of Cook County Crime Stoppers, urges the public to provide any information. "Marcella's family deserves justice, and we need the community's help to identify the person responsible for this senseless act," he said. Anyone with information about the driver is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-535-STOP (7867) and leave an anonymous tip. The video above is from a previous report.
