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Whimsical DuPage County, Illinois video on cicadas attracts Stephen Colbert’s attention

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Whimsical DuPage County, Illinois video on cicadas attracts Stephen Colbert’s attention


CHICAGO (CBS) — The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been getting a lot of buzz for an entertaining video it posted on periodical cicadas.

On Wednesday of last week, the forest preserve district featured “The Life Cycle of a 17-Year Cicada,” in which district ecology supervisor Tom Velat explained how cicadas emerge from the ground, crawl out of their exoskeletal shells, and acquire their dark brown to black color, orange wings, and red eyes after a few days.

The video also describes the mating cycle – with the help of a man in a cicada costume beating bongos and tossing out a pickup line as he sat in a tree. Actual male cicadas use their tymbals to generate sounds in hopes of attracting a female mate, and make a lot of noise in doing so.

Another actor had a few interesting tasks in playing a larval cicada.

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This past Wednesday night, Stephen Colbert—an alum, of course, of Chicago’s The Second City—noticed the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County video on “The Late Show.”

“Let me just say when I was struggling for acting work in Illinois, I would have killed for the part of cicada in larval stage,” Colbert said in his monologue. “But just like everything else, the part would have gone to Steve Carell. He just had that certain je ne sais-cada.”

This did not escape the notice of Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, where President Daniel Hebreard posted a whimsical message to Colbert on Thursday.

“I have a once-in-a-lifetime offer for you. We want you to be a part of our sequel – ‘Informational Cicada Video II, After Emergence!’” Hebreard said in the video, as a mock title card appeared showing what appeared to be an AI art approximation of Chicago being set upon by an apocalyptic storm of fire and swarming insects, along with one 17-year cicada hovering upfront.

Hebreard emphasized that this was a “limited-time offer,” as the cicada emergence is about to begin. In some places, it already has.

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“So if you want to join us, we’re waiting,” Hebreard advised Colbert, “but if you’re too busy, we can always bring in Steve Carell.”



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5 tornadoes confirmed in central Illinois following weekend storms

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5 tornadoes confirmed in central Illinois following weekend storms


(WAND) – The National Weather Service confirmed five tornadoes touched down in central Illinois during Sunday’s storms. 

The tornado count for the WAND viewing area, which does not include all of central Illinois, is now at 61 as of June 22.

For reference, the area averages 20 tornadoes annually. 

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The NWS confirmed an EF-1 east of Neoga in Cumberland County, along with EF-0 tornadoes southwest of Stewardson in Shelby County and northeast of Toledo, also in Cumberland County. 

Additionally, the NWS office in St. Louis confirmed two EF-0 tornadoes south of Shobonier in far southern Fayette County. 

Shobonier is about 10 miles south of Vandalia.

Final details have yet to be released.

This is a developing story. 

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Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.



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Jimmy Awards: Park Ridge, Tinley Park students to make Broadway debut

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Jimmy Awards: Park Ridge, Tinley Park students to make Broadway debut


CHICAGO (WLS) — The Jimmy Awards honoring “theatre kids” is happening on Monday night in New York City!

Jane Nuich from Park Ridge and Logan Arroyo of Tinley Park will represent Illinois. They’ll be competing against over 100 students from across the nation.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

ABC7’s Hosea Sanders has been following their adventure that leads to a Broadway debut.

When asked if they’ve been intimidated about what’s to come, Arroyo said, “Yes, it’s scary. It’s a scary place, especially putting yourself out there on a stage or alone. I want to be an actor, and I will do whatever I can to do that.”

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Nuich added, “It’s a huge opportunity to work with industry professionals and with so many other talented young people. And you get to experience so much in New York in that short week. And it’s, I think, such a cool experience rather than a big competition.”

Sanders also Arroyo and Nuich what growing up in the Chicago area has done for their exposure and their goals.

“I think the immediate access to all of the theater that Chicago has to offer has been so incredible to me. As a young student of theater and young performer in theater, I think it’s been so educational to me, and so inspiring to be able to anywhere in Chicago in a quick moment from the suburbs to just see so much theater,” Nuich said. “I think it’s so comforting to know you’re surrounded by so many artists who are just as passionate as you. And I think that going into a career in this, it’s so incredible to be exposed to so many young performers who are so talented and passionate as this age.”

Arroyo added, “I’m so excited to be around people I care about and love this as much as I do.”

When asked what previous Illinois Jimmy winners have told the performs, Nuich said, “It goes by really fast, that a lot will happen, but it’s important to stay grounded and to take it all in and realize what a special experience it is, and you just keep working hard.”

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“My big dream is to do what I love and love myself for doing it,” Arroyo said.

Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Video shows deadly tornado that hit southern Illinois, killing 2

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Video shows deadly tornado that hit southern Illinois, killing 2


A tornado caught on video tore through southern Illinois on Sunday, killing at least two people, hurting several others and destroying homes.

What we know:

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The tornado touched down shortly after 5 p.m. in northeastern Jefferson County and moved northeast, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Soon after, 911 dispatchers began getting calls about damaged homes, fallen trees, downed power lines and missing people.

Several police, fire and ambulance agencies responded to help search for people and clear damaged areas.

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By 9 p.m., officials said three homes had been completely destroyed, and many other buildings were damaged.

Two people died in separate homes that were destroyed by the storm. Both were single-wide mobile homes.

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Five people were taken to local hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

What we don’t know:

Officials have not released the names of the two people who died.

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The National Weather Service has not yet said how strong the tornado was or how far it traveled.

Local perspective:

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Fallen trees blocked at least three roads across the area.

Power lines were knocked down in multiple places, but officials said power had been restored to most customers by Sunday night.

Authorities asked people to stay away from northeastern Jefferson County unless they had an emergency reason to be there.

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The backstory:

The storm came less than two weeks after another round of severe weather produced more than 20 tornadoes across parts of Illinois and northwest Indiana on June 11.

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What they’re saying:

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office thanked first responders and volunteers who helped with search and rescue efforts.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of those lost in this tragic event,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

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The Source: The information in this story came from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Severe WeatherIllinoisNews



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