CHICAGO (CBS) — Police in west suburban Lisle are trying to figure out if they cracked a team of catalytic converter thieves. That’s the part on your car that controls your emissions Now three people are charged with stealing catalytic converters in neighboring Woodridge. On Saturday, someone called police saying they spotted the suspects cutting a converter out of a car near Route 53 and 83rd in Woodridge. Police spotted their car headed north on Route 53 and tried to arrest them near Maple, but the driver took off. Eventually the thieves stopped near Odgen and took off running, but officers ..read more

WOODRIDGE, Ill. (CBS) — Some Woodridge townhome owners have to leave their homes by Friday, Dec. 17, and they won’t be able to go back until spring of 2022. As CBS 2’s Suzanne Le Mignot reported, this all has to do with a tornado that hit Woodridge, and specifically the Woodridge Country Club Townhomes complex, back in June. The June tornado damage is still visible at the complex. Front glass doors are off hinges, and windows are glass-free. Townhome owners got notices on their doors Friday, saying they need to leave their homes on Dec. 17. The reason is that the water needs to be shut off to ..read more

WOODRIDGE, Ill. (CBS) — The strong storms that pounded the western suburbs Wednesday night did not keep people in Woodridge from coming out, stepping up, and giving a huge boost to families affected by the tornado that struck the area back in late June. Two months after tornadoes ripped through Woodridge and destroyed more than 400 homes there and in nearby Naperville, there were families still working to rebuild. Among them were Crystal and Spencer Tylin. AT the time, their son, Alias, wasn’t even born yet. “Utter terror – being that pregnant and not really knowing what’s going on,” Crystal T ..read more

WOODRIDGE, Ill. (CBS) — One month later, hotels were still home for some who lost everything in the tornadoes that struck the western suburbs. Even with insurance, homeowners have a long waiting game ahead. CBS 2’s Steven Graves spoke with a local contractor even feeling the effects. “It’s really odd to see no trees down my block,” said Mike Gasparino. In Woodridge a month after the EF-3 tornado plowed through, there were also fewer neighbors on Gasparino’s block. “There are four houses all in a row where they’re not going to be here for another nine months to a year,” he said. On Wednesday, G ..read more

WOODRIDGE, Ill. (CBS) — One month ago Tuesday, people in Woodridge and Naperville ran for cover as an EF-3 tornado tore a path through communities. For many, the pain doubled when they learned some of the damage was not covered by insurance. But as CBS 2’s Marie Saavedra reported Tuesday night, some of those tornado victims are getting a second chance. Trauma does funny things to time, so it’s somehow both crawling and speeding by. “I wish it wasn’t a month already, but it’s been a month – it’s moving quick!” said Joe Biondo. Biondo first gave us a tour of his tornado-torn yard in Woodridge on ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — If you had property damage from the tornadoes that ripped through the Chicago area last month, you may be eligible for financial help from the federal government. DuPage County was hit especially hard by an EF-3 tornado on the night of Sunday, June 20 – with neighborhoods in Naperville and Woodridge bearing the greatest brunt. Nearly 200 homes and businesses were ravaged, with damage estimates topping $5 million. The Small Business Administration has approved long-term low-interest federal recovery loans. They cover damage to homes, other property, and economic injury to small ..read more

WOODRIDGE, Ill. (CBS) — For people living in the southwest suburbs, more damaging weather is the last thing they need. People in Woodridge on Monday were still cleaning up after an EF3 tornado tore a path of destruction just over a week ago. CBS 2’s Brandon Merano reported Monday from the hardest hit area. Crews hauling away tons of tree limbs as people in Woodridge work to recover from the tornado that hit over a week ago. “It’s a disaster as you can see, we’ve been cleaning up the best we can,” said Beverly Sedlacek, whose boyfriend’s home was hit by the tornado. Nine hundred homes have been ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — More than 20 disaster relief agencies are set up in Woodridge to help victims of last week’s tornados. The resource center is set up to help anyone in the west suburbs who needs it. Help is available from rebuilding permits to government aid to essential items from the Red Cross. The resource center help session is Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon at Thomas Jefferson Junior High in Woodridge. Masks, proof of address and a photo identification are required to attend ..read more

WOODBRIDGE, Ill. (CBS) — Blue tarps and boards cover homes in Chicago’s western suburbs. The owners were forced out while repairs are made following a tornado that ripped through the area Sunday. But repairs could take a while. For families wanting to stay in the area, good luck finding a rental. The COVID-19 pandemic has helped create a housing shortage. The first feeling after a storm as strong as this one is shock. Not far behind it comes feeling overwhelmed. “You’re getting an overload of information that it’s hard to process,” said Pam Alexander, whose Woodbridge home is now uninhabi ..read more

WOODRIDGE, Ill. (CBS) — Woodridge Mayor Gina Cunningham estimates about 100 homes were significantly damaged in the western suburb by the tornado late Sunday night – but hundreds more were touched by the storm in smaller ways such as power outages or branches down. But neighbors also shared the damage you can’t see with CBS 2’s Marie Saavedra. After a storm, cleanup is a practical job. There are power crews and tree trimmers. And then, there’s the personal. Pam Alexander granted us permission to show you her greatest loss. Her backyard was left in ruins. “You know what’s funny? This part’s emo ..read more