20th Anniversary of Infamous Chicago River Incident

August 8, 2024, marks the 20th anniversary of the infamous incident when a Dave Matthews Band tour bus dumped 800 pounds of human waste onto a sightseeing boat in the Chicago River, drenching over 100 passengers in a foul-smelling slurry. The driver, Stefan Wohl, pleaded guilty to reckless conduct and was fined and sentenced to community service. The band settled a lawsuit with the City of Chicago for $200,000, including a $50,000 donation to Friends of the Chicago River. The incident has since become a notorious part of Chicago's cultural history, symbolizing the need for environmental awareness and better treatment of natural resources. Despite the initial horror, some view the event with humor and it remains a memorable, if unpleasant, episode in Chicago's storied past.