NBC 5 Responds

The Latest

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  NBC 5 Responds Oct 5

  NBC 5 Responds: Settlement to Offer Cold Hard Cash for Some LG Fridge Owners

  Imagine a scenario where just three days before you were scheduled to host Thanksgiving dinner, your refrigerator goes out.  That’s exactly what happened for Shenay and Ash Carter, from Chicago’s Auburn-Gresham neighborhood.   “The week before, I noticed food wasn’t as cold as normally was.  A few days before Thanksgiving, the w...
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  NBC 5 Responds Sep 29

  Fury and Frustration: Dealing With Illinois' Department of Employment Security Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

  Little live help is available, no promised callbacks despite months of waiting, and still IDES field offices statewide remain closed.  These are just a few items on the long list of complaints NBC5 Responds viewers report about the state’s Department of Employment Security, the only lifeline to life-saving benefits for many Illinois residents ...
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  NBC 5 Responds Sep 16

  ‘Millions in Losses:' Empty Dining Rooms Land Restaurant and Bar Owners in Courtrooms

  At the close of business on Monday, March 16, 2020, thousands of restaurants and bars in Illinois were forced to close to dine-in customers.    “I mean it was definitely very difficult, our busiest week of the year is that specific week. St Patrick’s Day corned beef, especially in Chicago, it’s our busiest time so we had pre o...
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  italy coronavirus Sep 11

  Far Away Law Hits Home for Chicago Traveler

  When the coronavirus pandemic put her trip on ice, a surprise development put a Chicago business owner’s $1,300 there, too.   In an Italian city already renowned for its history and food, another gem beckoned Chicago literary agent Lori Kilkelly. The Bologna Children’s Bookfair is the largest of its kind, geared toward authors and illustrators...
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  Steve Harvey Sep 4

  Steve Harvey's Labor Day Party: Blast? Or Bust?

  It was billed as the “Ultimate Labor Day Weekend Getaway” party at a five-star resort in the Dominican Republic.     And the party host, was none other than TV talk show host and comedian Steve Harvey.  But Steve Harvey’s Sand and Soul festival was also a chance for Genelle Betterson to celebrate retirement afte...
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  seniors scam Aug 29

  Stipend for Seniors? The Scheme Targeting Older Consumers

  A new predatory scheme is making the rounds in communities populated by seniors. It’s already hit close to home for NBC 5 Responds reporter Lisa Parker, whose father-in-law received the email that starts off our story.  From his home in Goodyear, Arizona, my 87-year-old father-in-law read the body of the email to us:  “Here is a link for ...
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  NBC 5 Responds Aug 25

  NBC 5 Responds: What Does a Homeowner Do When Appliances Break During a Pandemic?

  With the coronavirus pandemic still ongoing and businesses continuing to adapt to the limitations the virus is putting on society, homeowners are struggling with an all-too common problem: what to do if an appliance breaks. One such homeowner is Jolie Jimenez of Chicago, who says she was thrilled with her new Frigidaire refrigerator, which set her ...
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  NBC 5 Responds Aug 13

  Cautious Optimism: A Message From One Looted Chicago Business to Others

  NBC5 Responds started following the journey of one small businesses owner back in late May, when his two Loop boutiques were decimated by the violence and unrest that swept through the city. Would insurance cover his loss? How could he get back on his feet in the midst of a pandemic? Now, as he prepares to re-open in just weeks,…
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  NBC 5 Responds Aug 6

  College and the Coronavirus: Cost of School a Concern as Pandemic Continues

  With the coronavirus pandemic still ongoing, college students are facing even more financial pressure than normal. NBC 5 Responds’ Lisa Parker has more.
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  coronavirus illinois Aug 5

  Defer or Defy? The Decision Students Face on Whether to Head to College Campus

  These days, thousands of newly-minted high school graduates from the class of 2020, and returning upperclassman, are trying to put a value on something so hard to quantify: whether to pay full cost for online learning and a fraction of campus life.  Lucy McDowell of Winnetka decided to hold off on paying the $60,000 tuition to attend University of ...
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  NBC 5 Responds Aug 5

  College and the Coronavirus: How Incoming Students are Dealing With the COVID-19 Pandemic

  As we continue our “College and the Coronavirus” series, NBC 5 Responds’ Lisa Parker has more on students who are facing an uncertain path forward amid the pandemic.
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  Kwame Raoul Jul 29

  Illinois Attorney General Among Those Who Received Fraudulent Unemployment Benefits Card

  Tens of thousands of Illinois residents have applied for unemployment insurance benefits, but it’s the people who haven’t that need to beware Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is urging residents throughout Illinois to be on alert for signs of identity theft related to unemployment insurance, including pre-paid debit cards issued by...
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  travel Jul 27

  What a Backlog of Passport Applications Means For Travel During Coronavirus Pandemic

  The United States Department of State cut back passport operations when the pandemic hit. The result is a giant backlog of passport applications as the travel industry is desperate to jump start its recovery. NBC 5’s Lisa Parker reports.
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  unemployment Jul 21

  Urgent Warnings Issued by Police After Pattern of Unemployment Fraud Hits Illinois

  All over the country, people are receiving letters in their mailboxes that were not meant for them.  “My mom called me Friday and said, she got this unsolicited prepaid debit card in the mail addressed to my dad,” Brenda Schmidt of Naperville told NBC 5 Responds. “And that was surprising enough, but more surprising because my da...
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  travel Jul 16

  Airline Aggravation: Travelers Call For Clear Guidance on Flying

  Travelers say getting on a plane during a pandemic is unnerving enough, but now, the lack of any clear guidance from the government is adding to the frustration. Are masks required? Will someone be sitting in the middle seat? NBC 5’s Lisa Parker responds.
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  airlines coronavirus policies Jul 15

  LIST: U.S. Airline Coronavirus Pandemic Policies

  Major U.S. airlines have released travel policies for customers during the coronavirus pandemic. See their policies in the links below. Alaska Airlines American Airlines Delta Airlines Frontier Airlines Hawaiian Airlines JetBlue Southwest Airlines Spirit Airlines United Airlines
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  Expired Travel Credit Jul 15

  Airline Frustration: Passengers Face New Headaches Trying to Use Travel Credit

  While the coronavirus pandemic shows no signs of slowing down, many Frontier Airlines passengers say the airline is not offering customers an extension to expired travel vouchers. Customer complaints raise the question: How could consumers complete travel plans when so many destinations remain off-limits? It’s the same question that Aimee Ree...