CHICAGO (CBS) — An 80-year-old man is facing arson charges, accused of setting a fire in his apartment in northwest suburban Arlington Heights, damaging several other units in the building last week. Arlington Heights Police said Paul Strusiner is charged with aggravated arson in the fire at his apartment building at 400 W. Rand Rd. on Friday. He is due to appear for a bond hearing on Tuesday. Police said he admitted to intentionally setting a fire in his apartment, which spread to several other units, and sent dozens of families out into the freezing cold just after midnight on Friday. T ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS)– A fire in an Arlington Heights apartment building sent residents into the freezing cold overnight. Smoke was seen billowing out of a unit in the building located at 400 West Rand Road just after midnight. Officials believe the fire started on the first floor and spread to the second floor. A total of 96 apartments were evacuated. The Arlington Heights Police Department also arrested an 80-year-old man who lived in the apartment where the fire started. Police said the man was taken into custody after making statements about the fire to police. Detectives were reviewing evide ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS)– A car crashed into a house in Arlington Heights after police said the driver suffered a “medical episode.” Police responded to the crash at 523 East Circle Hill Drive just before 4:30 a.m. The 2014 Chevrolet Traverse drifted across the eastbound lanes of Valley Lane and then left the roadway. Police said the SUV initially struck a wooden fence before it crashed into the east wall of the residence. The 54-year-old driver suffered minor injuries due to the crash. He was taken to a local hospital for an evaluation. The house was deemed uninhabitable due to the damage. No one insid ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — The idea of the Bears moving to a site on or near the Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights may be a shock for Chicagoans, but it’s far from new. In fact, the idea has come up over and over again throughout the years, going back all the way to when the Bears were first looking for a new home after half a century playing at Wrigley Field. According to the Bears’ own official website, Arlington Heights was considered as an option for a new home for the team when they were looking to move from Wrigley Field in 1970. The Bears had shared Wrigley Field wit ..read more

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (CBS) — The idea of a move to Arlington Heights by the Bears is getting mixed reviews in the northwest suburbs. As CBS 2’s Chris Tye reported Wednesday, some neighbors have worries, while others are hoping to cash in. At Arlington International Racecourse – the former home of the Arlington Million – the million-dollar question is, how likely is the move to happen, really? For the first time in a long time, locals who have lived in and around Arlington Heights for decadesthink it is really likely. “It just kind of feels like they’re pulling the city into the burbs,” said ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Chicago Bears have talked about moving to Arlington Heights numerous times going back decades, but this time, it’s different. On Wednesday, the Bears confirmed that they have signed a $197 million deal to buy the Arlington International Racecourse, which hosted its last horseraces last weekend. As CBS 2’s Jim Williams reported, the Bears are not ready to hire construction crews yet. But the purchase agreement means their days here at Soldier Field could be numbered. For a century, the Bears have played their home games in the city itself. They shared Wrigley Field with the ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Bears have signed a purchase agreement for the Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot said her administration will go on working to keep the team in Chicago. The Chicago Bears and the Village of Arlington Heights released a statement Wednesday morning, confirming the team signed an agreement to purchase the Arlington Park property and possibly build a new stadium there. Bears President and CEO Ted Phillips released the following statement: “We are excited to have executed a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) for the Arling ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — A published report late Tuesday said the Bears have signed a purchase agreement for the Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot said her administration will go on working to keep the team in Chicago. The Athletic reported Tuesday night it had learned the Bears had signed an agreement to purchase the Arlington racetrack land, and an announcement is expected Wednesday morning. In a tweet Tuesday night, Mayor Lightfoot wrote: “My statement still stands on the Bears: my admin remains committed to continuing the work to keep the tea ..read more

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (CBS) — Scattered storms hit the area again on Sunday, and took a strong turn in the northwest suburbs. In Arlington Heights, the storms left a big mess. A big tree limb fell on a home and some cars, and other tree limbs were just thrown onto the ground. Homeowner Dominic Magno said the storm was fast and fierce. “Rain was really coming down,” he said. “I was inside, and all of a sudden, we heard a really big crash, looked outside, and saw this.” In nearby Mount Prospect, smoke rose after a power line fell on a tree. Meanwhile, winds were so strong that a construction c ..read more

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (CBS) — The Chicago Bears announced Thursday that they have placed a bid to buy Arlington International Racecourse. The Bears have flirted with the idea of moving the team out of Chicago before, and the Arlington Heights location has been rumored before. But this latest move, by far, has been the biggest step the Bears have taken toward the idea. CBS 2’s Charlie De Mar went to Arlington Heights Thursday to see how the idea sat with residents there. Soldier Field has been home to the Chicago Bears since 1971 – they shared Wrigley Field with the Cubs before that. Soldier ..read more