5 injured in apartment building fire, reported explosion in Des Plaines

burning flame of a building on fire

Five people were injured in an apartment fire and reported explosion in Des Plaines, Illinois, overnight.   Firefighters responded to a fire at a three-story building at 1279 Harding Ave just before 1 a.m. and found heavy flames and smoke.  Video from the scene shows firefighters on ladders working to control the flames as emergency responders on the ground treated residents. Fire officials confirmed that multiple people were rescued from balconies.  Five people were taken to local hospitals with injuries of varying severity, the Des Plaines Fire Department said.  One neighbor told CBS News Chicago she heard a “very big explosion” followed by people yelling, “Help me.”  The cause of the fire and the reported explosion are under investigation.

Source: 5 injured in apartment building fire, reported explosion in Des Plaines – CBS Chicago

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.
John 10:28-30

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Illinois surpasses 100 tornadoes for fourth year in a row

dramatic lightning over palmas brazil

Severe weather season has been off to a very active start in Illinois, with everything from flooding, hail, and damaging winds – and more than 100 tornadoes statewide. As of April 22, the preliminary count for tornadoes across the state of Illinois stands at 101 and counting, easily leading the entire country by far. That’s nearly double the annual average of 54 tornadoes in Illinois. With our severe weather season just getting started and lasting through September, that number has the chance to go up.

The typical count for tornadoes per year across Illinois is 54, so we already nearly doubled that. As of April 19, there have been at least 20 tornadoes in the National Weather Service Chicago forecast area, which includes parts of northwest Indiana. The typical number for that forecast area is between 10 to 20 tornadoes per year.

  • March 10th An EF-0 tornado north of Pontiac, IL.
  • An EF-U tornado near Cayuga, IL (midway between Pontiac and Odell).
  • An EF-U tornado in Kankakee Township. This brief tornado occurred prior to the start of the Kankakee-Roselawn
  • EF-3 tornado. An EF-U tornado in Otto Township. This brief tornado lifted just before the start of the Kankakee-Roselawn EF-3 tornado. 
  • An EF-3 tornado that tracked through southern Kankakee and Aroma Park in Illinois and Lake Village and Roselawn in Indiana before ending west of DeMotte, IN.
  • An EF-1 satellite tornado just southwest of Sun River Terrace. This was a southward-moving satellite tornado associated with the Kankakee-Roselawn EF-3 tornado. 
  • An EF-U tornado immediately south of Sun River Terrace. This was a brief satellite tornado associated with the Kankakee-Roselawn EF-3 tornado.
  • An EF-U tornado in southeastern Ganeer Township, southeast of Sun River Terrace. This was another brief satellite tornado associated with the Kankakee-Roselawn EF-3 tornado.
  • An EF-U tornado in Momence Township, north of Hopkins Park. This was an anticyclonic satellite tornado that initially moved north, stopped, then tracked south before ending very near its starting location.
  • An EF-1 tornado that tracked from southwest of Wheatfield to near Dunns Bridge, IN.
  • April 2nd EF-1 near Palmyra and Woosung in northwest Lee County. 
  • EF-1 in Pine Creek Township in southern Ogle County. 
  • EF-0 in Holcomb in northeast Ogle County. 
  • April 17th EF-U in Pecatonica
  • EF-1 in Harrison EF-1 in Roscoe
  • EF-1 in Gibson City
  • EF-1 near Loda and Buckley
  • EF-2 in Darrow
  • EF-1 in Kentland, Indiana

Source: Illinois surpasses 100 tornadoes for fourth year in a row – CBS Chicago

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 13:9

Recovery efforts underway after reported tornado in Lena, Illinois causes extensive damage

destroyed cottages in countryside after massive storm

Recovery efforts are underway on Saturday after a tornado touchdown has been reported in Lena, Illinois, about 48 miles west of Rockford. The tornado was part of a massive storm system that is barreling toward Chicago Friday afternoon. A tornado warning was issued for Lena at 4:45 p.m. CT, the National Weather Service said. Video from a livestream in Lena shows the massive, rotating storm descending on the town. There is extensive damage in the storm’s wake, according to public officials. The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media, asking people to avoid going to Lena at all. 

“There is no way to get into town due to trees and wires down,” the post said. “Emergency Services are assisting people per Sheriff Stovall.” The sheriff’s office said no deaths or serious injuries have been reported from the tornado. “We are extremely fortunate that this storm did not result in loss of life or serious injury,” Sheriff Steve Stovall said in a statement. “Our focus remains on ensuring the safety of our residents, securing the affected areas, and supporting the Village of Lena as recovery efforts move forward.”  

Source: Recovery efforts underway after reported tornado in Lena, Illinois causes extensive damage – CBS Chicago

One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:4

First responders rescue horse from flooded creek near Marengo, Illinois

a horse covered in snow

First responders rescued a horse from an overflowing creek near Marengo, Illinois, northwest of Chicago this weekend.

Early Saturday morning, the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts were called for an animal water rescue in the 22900 block of Anthony Road in unincorporated McHenry County near Marengo.

Firefighters and sheriff’s deputies found a horse in Coon Creek, standing in floodwaters about 600 feet from the nearest shore, the fire and rescue district said. Coon Creek overflowed its banks during recent storms, and the horse was believed to have been swept away overnight Friday into Saturday, the district said.

Source: First responders rescue horse from flooded creek near Marengo, Illinois – CBS Chicago

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
Psalm 105:4

Illinois man charged with sending threats to federal judges in Texas and Florida

police officer putting handcuffs on another, person arrest

A man from Chicago’s north suburbs has been charged with threatening federal judges in Texas and Florida.

Source: Illinois man charged with sending threats to federal judges in Texas and Florida – CBS Texas

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
Psalm 145:18

Illinois surpasses 100 tornadoes for fourth year in a row

Severe weather season has been off to a very active start in Illinois, with everything from flooding, hail, and damaging winds – and more than 100 tornadoes statewide. As of April 22, the preliminary count for tornadoes across the state of Illinois stands at 101 and counting, easily leading the entire country by far. That’s…

New hormone targets same brain region as GLP-1 drugs to fight obesity

Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have discovered a hormone that appears to reverse obesity in the body. The new study, published in the journal Cell Reports, used mouse models to identify a naturally occurring hormone called FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21). The hormone “appears to work by signaling to a brain region involved in…

Baby Squirrel Foster Mom

Retired California teaching assistant Angel Barba has been a baby squirrel foster mom for the last seven years.  Source: Squirrel Foster Mom You Tube

Abortion News Roundup: April 15–22, 2026

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Christian Persecution News Roundup: April 15–22, 2026

Coverage of Christian persecution this week focused on follow-up reporting from earlier Holy Week and Easter violence (late March/early April), alongside isolated new incidents and urgent advocacy calls. No single large-scale new massacre dominated global headlines during this exact window, but organizations like International Christian Concern (ICC) and Open Doors continued to highlight ongoing patterns…

Product Recalls Roundup: April 15–22, 2026

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Important (Buried) News Stories: April 15–22, 2026

While the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, Trump administration statements, and related global fallout dominated headlines and social media, several significant developments received far less attention. These stories—drawn from economic warnings, political shifts, humanitarian data, and legal rulings—highlight under-the-radar impacts on global stability, U.S. policy, and long-term consequences. Here’s a roundup of the most notable…

2 killed as at least 4 suspected tornadoes leave trail of damage in Kankakee Illinois, Lake Village Indiana

purple thunder storm during nighttime

Suspected tornadoes have left extensive damage in Kankakee County in Illinois and into neighboring Indiana Tuesday, where two people were killed. The storms also produced hail ranging in size from two to four inches, the National Weather Service said. The NWS said the largest hailstone produced was six inches in diameter, which fell in Kankakee. The NWS said the hailstone may be a state record for Illinois.

Source: 2 killed as at least 4 suspected tornadoes leave trail of damage in Kankakee Illinois, Lake Village Indiana, NWS says – ABC7 Chicago

No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2

Rescued Mountain lion cub at Oakland Zoo becomes fan favorite online

Inside a small enclosure lined with blankets and surrounded by at least two dozen stuffed animals, 5-week-old Crimson bats and tumbles. Then, he drops low, giving a quick pre-pounce shimmy before springing at his next “victim,” a fuzzy purple dinosaur with yellow hair. “These toys are a temporary replacement for the siblings he unfortunately doesn’t…

Bike Owner Can’t Believe What a Stranger Has Tied to the Center Bar

A cyclist was left baffled after returning to their bike to discover a mysterious surprise tied to the center bar. The photo, which quickly went viral on Reddit, shows a close‑up of a blue bicycle frame with a plastic bag knotted securely around it, racking up 23,000 upvotes in less than 24 hours. The April…

Messy homes are ruining Americans’ free time: survey

In the past three months, the average American has missed out on two fun events, avoided hosting guests twice, and had two arguments in their household due to their home’s messy state. According to a new survey of 2,000 nationally representative Americans, the stress of needing to clean their home before they can relax is…

Mass murder trial in El Salvador for almost 500 alleged MS-13 members

Nearly 490 alleged members of the powerful Central American gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), including several alleged leaders, went on trial collectively in El Salvador on Monday, accused of thousands of murders. El Salvador is conducting mass trials of thousands of suspected gang members, many of whom have spent years in prison without charge or visiting…

Redwood City police warn neighborhood of “aggressive” coyotes

Police in Redwood City issued a warning to residents of a neighborhood Monday morning, after coyotes were spotted in the area. Around 9:50 a.m., police said they were responding to an incident involving “aggressive coyotes” in the Redwood Shores neighborhood. According to officers, the animals were seen on the 1000 block of Rockport Avenue and…

Justice Behind Closed Doors in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is the only state in the nation that exempts all three branches of state government; legislature, governor’s office, and judiciary from its public records law. That became an issue in 2023 when anonymous letters began to be received by defense attorneys whose clients had been convicted in criminal cases heard in the Bristol County…

1 dead after small plane crashes into Florida yard

A small plane crashed Sunday in the yard of a home near Tampa, Florida, killing one person, authorities said. The crash sparked a fire on the property, and the residence itself “sustained some damage,” said Sarah Andeara, the Pasco County public information officer, in a statement that CBS affiliate WTSP shared with CBS News. Pasco County…

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