Cynthia Dizikes

Chief Judge Timothy Evans has refused to offer details of an investigation into the county's probation department that came after allegations surfaced about rogue officers.

Chief judge mum on completed inquiry into Cook County probation agency

May 15, 2019 at 8:33 p.m.

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans promised the public a swift and thorough investigation into the county's probation department in 2014, following allegations that rogue officers had planted drugs, stolen...

Smart thermostat program could cut energy bills

August 19, 2019 at 5:14 a.m.

Looking to move energy savings beyond light bulbs, a coalition of utilities, environmental groups and government agencies announced a new Chicago-area heating and cooling program Thursday that they said could...

This Oct. 7, 2011 photo shows the North entrance to the Exelon nuclear power plant, in Cordova Ill.

Exelon defers decision to close 2 of its Illinois nuclear plants

August 19, 2019 at 1:55 a.m.

Exelon announced Thursday that it will put off a decision to close two of its Illinois nuclear plants for at least a year after receiving a financial windfall by promising...

A United Airlines jet lands at the airport in Newark, N.J., on Sept. 9, 2015, a day after the airline abruptly replaced its CEO amid a federal investigation into whether the airline gave preferential treatment to a former chairman of the agency that operates the New York-area airports.

How a New Jersey bridge scandal led to downfall of a Chicago CEO

June 15, 2018 at 2:17 p.m.

It was billed as the scandal that would end New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's presidential ambitions. But as Christie's campaign sputters on in the wake of "Bridgegate," an offshoot of...

BP's Whiting refinery is seen Aug. 25, 2015. An outage at the refinery on Aug. 8 caused the local price of gas to spike. The largest of the plant's three crude distillation units had to shut down because of leaky pipes, but it was restarted Aug. 25.

Pain at the pump expected to continue for Chicagoans

August 19, 2019 at 1:23 a.m.

Gas prices in the Chicago area are dipping in time for the Labor Day holiday after a massive outage at a nearby refinery caused the local cost of gas to...

Byron, one of Exelon's struggling nuclear plants, was picked in the power auction whose results were made public Aug. 21, 2015.

Chicago ComEd customers to be charged more for electricity in coming years

August 19, 2019 at 1:20 a.m.

Chicagoans will see a portion of their electricity bills rise in coming years because of new electric grid rules tied to the polar vortex, according to power auction results that...

Michael Lipford, shown Feb. 19, 2014, alleges in a lawsuit that probation officers and city police illegally searched his West Side apartment.

Chicago man’s suit alleges officers illegally searched his home

August 19, 2019 at 1:15 a.m.

A Chicago man has alleged in a federal civil rights lawsuit that Cook County probation officers and city police illegally searched his home, arrested him without cause and then walked...

NRG Energy Inc. announced last year that it plans to convert its massive Joliet facility to natural gas.

Obama unveils rules to limit carbon dioxide emissions, curb climate change

August 19, 2019 at 1:11 a.m.

In a sweeping bid to curb heat-trapping pollution that is altering the planet's climate, President Barack Obama on Monday unveiled the first-ever limits on carbon dioxide emissions from the nation's...

Cloud Gate, commonly known as "The Bean," in Millennium Park in Chicago reflects fallen snow Jan. 2, 2014.

New power rules prompted by polar vortex may hike Chicago-area electricity bills

August 19, 2019 at 1:07 a.m.

Though the polar vortex seems a frost-bound memory, Chicagoans may now feel its bite in a new, unexpected way — higher electricity bills. Beginning next month, power plants in northern...

ComEd to hold energy fairs to help low-income customers

May 23, 2019 at 1:26 a.m.

Commonwealth Edison will hold energy fairs at satellite locations across the region Monday in order to get money to thousands of people struggling to pay their electricity bills in northern...

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