Category: CNN Regional

By Tara Molina

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago says treated wastewater from its Calumet plant could be redirected to data centers — potentially reducing how much drinking water those facilities consume each day.

The Calumet Water Reclamation Plant processes an average of 350 million gallons of water daily, treating sewage, rainwater and wastewater before releasing it into the Little Calumet River. John Murray, who leads the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, said that treated water could instead be put to industrial use.

“It would be possible here to use treated water reuse not only in data centers but also industrial settings,” Murray said.

The district serves Chicago and 48 nearby suburbs — roughly 1 million customers.

The push comes as data centers face growing scrutiny over their water consumption. As CBS News Chicago has reported, a single data center can use up to 5 million gallons of water in one day — the same amount as a medium-sized town — and that water does not return to the water system.

Most data centers in the area currently rely on municipal drinking water to cool their computers, servers and equipment. Rachel Havrelock of The Freshwater Lab explained why that water isn’t recovered.

“Oftentimes these cooling systems are what we call evaporative cooling — that means the water is lost to the system,” Havrelock said.

Nationally, data centers accounted for 17.4 billion gallons of water use in 2023, a figure projected to grow to 72.6 billion gallons by 2028.

Murray said shifting data centers to recycled water would reduce pressure on Lake Michigan.

“It would decrease the amount of water that would have to be used from Lake Michigan,” he said.

But the transition wouldn’t happen overnight. New infrastructure would be needed to move treated water from a plant like Calumet to industrial sites — and that infrastructure doesn’t come cheap.

“If there was a data center built nearby one of our plants, there would have to be a way to get the water to them, so there would have to be a pipeline. There would have to be pumps. The water would have to get to them, and it’s very costly to do that,” Murray said.

Murray said any such project would go through a public process, addressing the kind of concerns that have already shaped local pushback and new rules around data centers in the Chicago area.

“Anything we would do, any project we would consider like that — we would be working through an open, public, transparent process,” he said. “Any type of situation that arises where there could be a water reuse project pursued? We would be very open and very transparent and working with our neighbors to ensure that appropriate mitigation measures are put in place.”

Researchers and water protection advocates say that conversation needs to start soon, pointing to states like California as examples of places that have already addressed the issue. Murray framed the potential shift in straightforward terms.

“That would be a benefit to the environment,” he said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Tara Molina

Click here for updates on this story

    CHICAGO (WBBM) — The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago says treated wastewater from its Calumet plant could be redirected to data centers — potentially reducing how much drinking water those facilities consume each day.

The Calumet Water Reclamation Plant processes an average of 350 million gallons of water daily, treating sewage, rainwater and wastewater before releasing it into the Little Calumet River. John Murray, who leads the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, said that treated water could instead be put to industrial use.

“It would be possible here to use treated water reuse not only in data centers but also industrial settings,” Murray said.

The district serves Chicago and 48 nearby suburbs — roughly 1 million customers.

The push comes as data centers face growing scrutiny over their water consumption. As CBS News Chicago has reported, a single data center can use up to 5 million gallons of water in one day — the same amount as a medium-sized town — and that water does not return to the water system.

Most data centers in the area currently rely on municipal drinking water to cool their computers, servers and equipment. Rachel Havrelock of The Freshwater Lab explained why that water isn’t recovered.

“Oftentimes these cooling systems are what we call evaporative cooling — that means the water is lost to the system,” Havrelock said.

Nationally, data centers accounted for 17.4 billion gallons of water use in 2023, a figure projected to grow to 72.6 billion gallons by 2028.

Murray said shifting data centers to recycled water would reduce pressure on Lake Michigan.

“It would decrease the amount of water that would have to be used from Lake Michigan,” he said.

But the transition wouldn’t happen overnight. New infrastructure would be needed to move treated water from a plant like Calumet to industrial sites — and that infrastructure doesn’t come cheap.

“If there was a data center built nearby one of our plants, there would have to be a way to get the water to them, so there would have to be a pipeline. There would have to be pumps. The water would have to get to them, and it’s very costly to do that,” Murray said.

Murray said any such project would go through a public process, addressing the kind of concerns that have already shaped local pushback and new rules around data centers in the Chicago area.

“Anything we would do, any project we would consider like that — we would be working through an open, public, transparent process,” he said. “Any type of situation that arises where there could be a water reuse project pursued? We would be very open and very transparent and working with our neighbors to ensure that appropriate mitigation measures are put in place.”

Researchers and water protection advocates say that conversation needs to start soon, pointing to states like California as examples of places that have already addressed the issue. Murray framed the potential shift in straightforward terms.

“That would be a benefit to the environment,” he said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Sam Carter

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — With the start of school right around the corner for many, some might be thinking about some extracurricular activities for their child when school lets out.

If you have an active kid, All About Kids vice president Jason Button thinks you should give All About Kids a look.

“We are a multi-sport facility; we offer swim, gymnastics, cheer, ninja, dance, and basketball at our Oldham location,” Button said.

The facility is best known for its elite gymnastics instruction. Still, according to Button, even if your kid will never be an Olympian, they can learn valuable lessons at All About Kids.

“We have babies that swim, we have all these sports that help these kids grow up to be happy, healthy, confident adults,” Button said.

When JCPS has a break, All About Kids holds day camps.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Sara Machi

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — Thousands of dollars of new and unused school supplies – including books, beakers, and maps – were thrown in the trash outside an elementary school in Avondale ahead of the new school year.

Now neighbors want to know why this happened as others try to salvage what they can.

It might be that one man’s trash is another’s treasure, but some are questioning why these items are in the trash at all.

“What you don’t see is there’s really good stuff on the bottom too,” Ashley Di Bella said.

Hundreds of items – likely worth thousands of dollars – were salvaged from the dumpsters outside Carlos Fuentes Elementary School in Avondale, on the city’s Northwest Side; some still brand new in packaging.

“I called some of my other daycare colleagues and was, like, ‘Child, come on up out here. They got stuff for third graders, they got stuff for first graders, they got stuff for kindergarteners,'” Parish Banks said.

Banks drove 30 minutes to Fuentes Elementary to get supplies to open a new daycare in Greater Grand Crossing.

“Worth it. Look, I’m still digging,” Banks said.

People in Avondale were especially concerned that the items thrown in the dumpsters outside Fuentes Elementary could have been reused, because many are brand new, and come in multiples, including textbooks in sets by the dozen.

“My understanding, based on what I talked with them this morning, there still will be stuff thrown out. How much I’m not sure,” Di Bella said.

Fuentes Elementary is one of five former charter schools run by Acero that were set to be closed at the end of the 2025-26 school year, but instead are being taken over by the Chicago Public Schools.

A CPS spokesperson said the district “is dedicated to being a responsible steward of public resources and supporting our schools, families and neighborhood communities.”

“As Carlos Fuentes Elementary School prepares to become a District-managed school, District staff were charged this summer with clearing out legacy materials left behind by the former operator,” a CPS spokesperson said. “CPS expects all transition teams to prioritize donation and recycling whenever possible. It appears that some of the disposed items at this school included textbooks that do not meet approved learning standards for CPS classrooms. We will continue to evaluate the disposal process at Fuentes Elementary and other schools to ensure usable supplies are redirected to community partners, families, or local organizations moving forward.”

It’s unclear if the same process is playing out at the four other former Acero schools being taken over by CPS.

But by Monday morning, not all that had been thrown out could be salvaged, because of this weekend’s severe weather.

“Almost everything is ruined, because of the rain, which is very unfortunate. So many books,” Jana Signer said.

Signer and her sister came by Fuentes Elementary to save as much as possible from the dumpsters, a mission that hits close to home after they were raised by their mother, a teacher who often paid her own money for supplies.

“It’s really unfortunate. It blows my mind that they would throw away usable stuff when there are kids that don’t have that kind of stuff,” she said.

They’re now hauling away what they can, hoping the supplies end up with students and not in the landfill.

Headlines have appeared previously about Chicago schools discarding books en masse, albeit for a different reason and not involving any new books.

In 2022, some were alarmed when hundreds of books were seen in dumpsters at Lake View High School, 4015 N. Ashland Ave. — including a copy each of August Wilson’s “Fences,” Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.” On that occasion, the principal of Lake View High said the disposal of the books was an example of weeding, which he said ensures the school removes materials in poor condition or containing inaccurate or dated information.

In 2024, two dumpsters full of paperbacks and textbooks were seen piled up outside Carl Schurz High School, at 3601 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the Irving Park neighborhood.

Various biology and chemistry textbooks and lab notebooks, a copy of Mawi Asgedom’s “Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy’s Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard,” and multiple copies of Peter Mayle’s 1991 national bestseller “A Year in Provence” were among the books visible in a massive dumpster.

At that time, CBS News Chicago reached out to the Chicago Public Schools, which again said the disposal of the books is part of “the regular weeding process.” The books were old, outdated, and no longer needed, and thus were thrown away, CPS said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Sara Machi

Click here for updates on this story

    CHICAGO (WBBM) — Thousands of dollars of new and unused school supplies – including books, beakers, and maps – were thrown in the trash outside an elementary school in Avondale ahead of the new school year.

Now neighbors want to know why this happened as others try to salvage what they can.

It might be that one man’s trash is another’s treasure, but some are questioning why these items are in the trash at all.

“What you don’t see is there’s really good stuff on the bottom too,” Ashley Di Bella said.

Hundreds of items – likely worth thousands of dollars – were salvaged from the dumpsters outside Carlos Fuentes Elementary School in Avondale, on the city’s Northwest Side; some still brand new in packaging.

“I called some of my other daycare colleagues and was, like, ‘Child, come on up out here. They got stuff for third graders, they got stuff for first graders, they got stuff for kindergarteners,'” Parish Banks said.

Banks drove 30 minutes to Fuentes Elementary to get supplies to open a new daycare in Greater Grand Crossing.

“Worth it. Look, I’m still digging,” Banks said.

People in Avondale were especially concerned that the items thrown in the dumpsters outside Fuentes Elementary could have been reused, because many are brand new, and come in multiples, including textbooks in sets by the dozen.

“My understanding, based on what I talked with them this morning, there still will be stuff thrown out. How much I’m not sure,” Di Bella said.

Fuentes Elementary is one of five former charter schools run by Acero that were set to be closed at the end of the 2025-26 school year, but instead are being taken over by the Chicago Public Schools.

A CPS spokesperson said the district “is dedicated to being a responsible steward of public resources and supporting our schools, families and neighborhood communities.”

“As Carlos Fuentes Elementary School prepares to become a District-managed school, District staff were charged this summer with clearing out legacy materials left behind by the former operator,” a CPS spokesperson said. “CPS expects all transition teams to prioritize donation and recycling whenever possible. It appears that some of the disposed items at this school included textbooks that do not meet approved learning standards for CPS classrooms. We will continue to evaluate the disposal process at Fuentes Elementary and other schools to ensure usable supplies are redirected to community partners, families, or local organizations moving forward.”

It’s unclear if the same process is playing out at the four other former Acero schools being taken over by CPS.

But by Monday morning, not all that had been thrown out could be salvaged, because of this weekend’s severe weather.

“Almost everything is ruined, because of the rain, which is very unfortunate. So many books,” Jana Signer said.

Signer and her sister came by Fuentes Elementary to save as much as possible from the dumpsters, a mission that hits close to home after they were raised by their mother, a teacher who often paid her own money for supplies.

“It’s really unfortunate. It blows my mind that they would throw away usable stuff when there are kids that don’t have that kind of stuff,” she said.

They’re now hauling away what they can, hoping the supplies end up with students and not in the landfill.

Headlines have appeared previously about Chicago schools discarding books en masse, albeit for a different reason and not involving any new books.

In 2022, some were alarmed when hundreds of books were seen in dumpsters at Lake View High School, 4015 N. Ashland Ave. — including a copy each of August Wilson’s “Fences,” Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.” On that occasion, the principal of Lake View High said the disposal of the books was an example of weeding, which he said ensures the school removes materials in poor condition or containing inaccurate or dated information.

In 2024, two dumpsters full of paperbacks and textbooks were seen piled up outside Carl Schurz High School, at 3601 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the Irving Park neighborhood.

Various biology and chemistry textbooks and lab notebooks, a copy of Mawi Asgedom’s “Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy’s Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard,” and multiple copies of Peter Mayle’s 1991 national bestseller “A Year in Provence” were among the books visible in a massive dumpster.

At that time, CBS News Chicago reached out to the Chicago Public Schools, which again said the disposal of the books is part of “the regular weeding process.” The books were old, outdated, and no longer needed, and thus were thrown away, CPS said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Danielle Scruggs

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    BOYNTON BEACH, Florida (WPBF) — Family, friends and loved ones are in mourning after a 3-year-old child died after getting their head stuck in a playset last month in Boynton Beach.

It happened just after 11 a.m. on July 23 in the Meadows of Boynton Beach community.

Officers with the Boynton Beach Police Department arrived at the scene and immediately began lifesaving measures on the toddler. Boynton Beach Fire Rescue arrived shortly thereafter and took the child to a nearby hospital.

The preliminary investigation showed that the toddler, along with their sibling, had been at a babysitter’s house when the incident occurred. The babysitter left the residence and left the children in their spouse’s care.

During this time, the spouse remained upstairs as the children played downstairs, periodically checking on the children and giving them snacks. The spouse came down to check on the children and located the 3-year-old with their head stuck in a kitchen playset.

The spouse removed the child and immediately began performing lifesaving measures until first responders arrived.

The toddler’s sibling advised that the child’s toys had fallen into the kitchen playset when they attempted to retrieve the toys and became stuck.

The child was pronounced dead on July 27.

At this time, charges have not been filed.

This is an ongoing investigation, and WPBF 25 will keep you updated on-air and online when more information becomes available.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Todd Feurer

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    Chicago (WBBM) — Seven people were rescued after their boat capsized on Lake Michigan on Monday evening near 49th Street near the Kenwood neighborhood.

Chicago Fire Department officials said three of the boaters were taken to the hospital in good condition. The other four refused transport.

It’s unclear what caused their boat to capsize.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Hayley Crombleholme

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    FLAGLER COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — A Flagler County man is accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend, stealing a teddy bear containing her son’s ashes, and making threats after their brief relationship ended.

According to an arrest report, 31-year-old Justin Fountain met the woman on Facebook Dating and dated her for only a few weeks before she ended the relationship.

The woman, who lives in Palm Coast, told police and deputies that she broke up with Fountain after he became “verbally aggressive with her and was attempting to control her everyday life.”

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said Fountain did not handle the breakup well.

“Stealing the ashes of her child and taking her medication and making all kinds of threats,” Staly said.

Fountain is accused of stalking, theft, and accessing the victim’s social media and phone accounts, including using some apps with location-tracking to find her.

The woman said she had kicked Fountain out of the Red Roof Plus where she had been living, but he continued to show up at her workplace, the hotel, and even a restaurant where she was eating with a friend.

When she returned to her room, she found it in disarray and discovered several items missing, including a teddy bear containing an urn with her son’s ashes.

“I can’t think of a more despicable person that would do that,” Staly said.

The arrest report also stated that Fountain claimed to have taken the woman’s insulin. Messages allegedly sent by Fountain, and edited for what the report said was “readability,” included threats such as, “Five seconds and I’m gonna set this teddy bear on fire,” and, “If you want your son back, tell Buddy to leave now.”

While a deputy was speaking with the woman, Fountain reportedly called her over 60 times from multiple numbers and sent more than 50 text messages. Some of the messages included pictures of the GPS in his car, which helped deputies track him down.

“Fortunately for us, he’s kind of a dumb criminal,” Staly said.

When deputies stopped Fountain on I-95 North, he denied any wrongdoing.

“She went and met up with somebody else, and so I confronted them about it, but I was never violent, never aggressive,” Fountain said in body camera footage. “I went to the room and got my stuff, which is in the car. If you look in the trunk, you can see my stuff’s in the car.”

Inside the car, deputies found the missing teddy bear containing the woman’s son’s ashes. Fountain was arrested and is now facing multiple felony charges.

“If he’s acting like this within just a couple weeks, there’s no telling what he is capable of doing,” Staly said.

The sheriff commended the woman for coming forward and encouraged others in similar situations to seek help from law enforcement.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, help is available through the domestic violence hotline at any time. You can reach it at 800-799-7233.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.