ELMHURST, Ill. (CBS) — There was a huge show of support Wednesday evening for the family of a Bensenville police officer who was shot and critically injured on the job this month. The show of support took place at, of all places, a political fundraiser at a banquet hall in Elmhurst. CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov talked with the wife of Officer Steven Kotlewski, who attended the event. Crystal Kotlewski spoke publicly for the first time about her husband’s shooting – saying she is angry and terrified, but grateful. Bensenville Police Officer Steven Kotlewski (Credit: Bensenville Pol ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — Elmhurst, Highland Park, Wheaton, Park Ridge, and Glen Ellyn were ranked among the best 100 small cities to live in America, according to a new study. The study from WalletHub looks at affordability, safety, local economy, health care and other issues in more than 1,300 small cities ranging from local restaurants to schools. Only cities with a population between 25,000 and 100,000 were considered. Elmhurst was the top ranked small city in Illinois, ranked at #45, followed by Highland Park at #50, Wheaton at #59, Park Ridge at #61, and Glen Ellyn at #64. Neighboring Indiana had ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — Senior citizens in an Elmhurst neighborhood were left frustrated and concerned, because their AT&T landlines were down for nearly three months, yet the company went on sending out bills despite no service. Morning Insider Tim McNicholas fought for answers from the phone company. Joan Miller is getting letters in the mail; from an old friend who tried to call on her birthday, and a doctor with important information about a refill of her meds, who have tried several times to call her without success. Her AT&T landline’s been out for the past 2 ½ months. Even her daughter ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — Senior citizens in an Elmhurst neighborhood are frustrated and concerned, because their AT&T landlines have been down for nearly three months, yet the company is still sending out bills despite no service. Morning Insider Tim McNicholas is fighting for answers from the phone company. Joan Miller is getting letters in the mail; from an old friend who tried to call on her birthday, and a doctor with important information about a refill of her meds, who have tried several times to call her without success. Her AT&T landline’s been out for the past 2 ½ months. Even her daug ..read more

By Mary Chappell CHICAGO (CBS) — A south-suburban man accused of burglarizing an Elmhurst home where he took items including an urn containing a child’s ashes has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, officials said. Authorities received a call Dec. 9, 2019 reporting a burglary at an Elmhurst home. The victims reported a coin collection and urn containing the ashes of their infant son were missing, according to a press release from the DuPage County State’s Attorney. Police investigated the incident and gathered enough information to charge Glenn Addison, 68, of 547 E. 149th Street in Harvey ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — COVID has cancelled many traditional Memorial Day events. The city of Elmhurst put off its parade, it did still have a procession through the streets on Monday morning. The Chicago suburb had a convoy of first responders which included police cars, firetrucks and military vehicles that went past the Veterans Memorial in Wilder Park. People lined the streets, waving flags, to say thank you. “It’s very important for us to recognize the people who made the extreme sacrifice, but the families,” said William Shanklin of the Elmhurst American Legion. A ceremony took place in Elmhurst ..read more

ELMHURST, Ill. (CBS) — An Elmhurst University student has been charged with reporting that a man with a gun was walking around campus late last month – when in fact, there was never any man with a gun. Darnel Baalbaki, 25, of Bellwood, was charged Monday with felony disorderly conduct in filing a false crime report. Elmhurst police said at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, they responded to a single report of a man with a gun at the university, main street address 190 Prospect Ave. in the west suburb. The university reported on its website that a person with a gun was found around 3:35 p.m. near ..read more

ELMHURST, Ill. (CBS) — A neighborhood in west suburban Elmhurst is an uproar about a house serving as a home for former addicts. The house has been in violation of city code for more than a year. And as CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov reported Wednesday night, neighbors are fighting a zoning change that would legitimize it and allow for the seven people living in the house to stay there. This is not your typical not-in-my-backyard story. The people living in the area are not opposed to a recovery home. What they don’t like is the way the City of Elmhurst, or the property owner, are go ..read more

ELMHURST, Ill. (CBS) — Elmhurst University was placed on lockdown for hours late Wednesday because of a report of a person with a gun, but no suspect was ultimately located. Elmhurst police said at 3:30 p.m., they responded to a single report of a man with a gun at the university, main street address 190 Prospect Ave. in the west suburb. The university reported on its website that a person with a gun was found around 3:35 p.m. near the Dinkmeyer Hall dormitory. Half an hour later, the person was reported near Niebuhr Hall dormitory. Those on campus were told to seek shelter in a locked room an ..read more

ELMHURST, Ill. (CBS) — Two rope nooses were found hanging from the top of the bleachers at the football field at York Community High School in Elmhurst, police said. Elmhurst police and the Elmhurst School District were notified of the incident Monday. It was sometime between noon and 2:30 p.m. Sunday when a group of adults gathered to play an informal soccer game at the school football field, 355 St. Charles Rd., police said. During their visit, the group found the rope nooses hanging from the bleachers, police said. The adults took nooses down themselves with a plan to give them to school ad ..read more