Stories by Matt Masterson

“That is the last thing that students and families need,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said of a possible teachers strike, “and given how close our teams are to an agreement, we see no reason for such a drastic step.”

While the train operator was found to have alcohol in his system at the time of the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board determined that this was not what caused the Nov. 16, 2023, collision north of the Howard Street CTA station.

There were 38 homicides recorded throughout the city in January, an 8.6% jump over the same month in 2024, according to new data from the Chicago Police Department.

Michael Madigan’s defense team rested Thursday, nearly three months after opening statements and testimony began in the landmark case. Here is what you need to know about the case.

Jury deliberations finally got underway Wednesday afternoon in the landmark corruption trial of powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan after six days of closing arguments.

Of the 23 total charges in the indictment, Michael McClain faces six counts including racketeering conspiracy, federal program bribery and wire fraud. He has pleaded not guilty.

Monday marked the fourth day of closing arguments in Michael Madigan’s landmark corruption trial at the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago.

Prosecutors concluded their final summations Friday on Day 3 of closing arguments in the former speaker’s landmark trial by presenting an overview of how the various bribery and corruption schemes alleged in the government’s 23-charge indictment all come together under count one: racketeering conspiracy.

Thursday marked the second day of closing arguments in the speaker’s landmark racketeering and bribery trial, as prosecutors continued detailing the five corruption schemes Madigan allegedly orchestrated.

Closing statements officially got underway Thursday afternoon, more than three months after the corruption trial of Madigan and his longtime friend and ally Michael McClain.

Michael Madigan’s defense team officially rested Thursday morning, nearly three months after opening statements and testimony began in the landmark case.

“This moment is no doubt historic," elected member Ellen Rosenfeld said, "not just for me but for all of us, because this body reflects the voices and values of the majority of the people of our district.”

Tuesday marked Madigan’s fourth day on the witness stand and his second facing cross-examination by government prosecutors.

Michael Madigan, who is charged alongside his longtime right-hand man Michael McClain, is alleged to have orchestrated multiple corruption schemes, wielding his political power to reward loyal allies and enrich himself. They have each pleaded not guilty.

As Michael Madigan returned to the witness stand for his second day of testimony Wednesday in his ongoing corruption trial, he told jurors outright that he “would not be involved in a quid pro quo.“

A new annual report published Wednesday from the CPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) highlights the office’s major investigations from the previous year.

The bombshell decision came Tuesday as the monthslong corruption trial at Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Building is drawing to a close.

According to the Chicago Police Department, seven people were shot in seven separate shooting incidents between Friday and Sunday evenings. Of those victims, two were killed while another person was killed as a result of blunt force trauma.

For the year, there were 573 homicides recorded throughout Chicago last year, down from 620 in 2023 and 714 in 2022.

The Chicago Police Department has said that although it has received “no actionable intelligence” regarding any possible incidents near the downtown skyscraper, it will conduct additional patrols in the immediate area.

To fully understand what led the district to this point, let’s go back in time to the spring of this year. Below is a timeline of the major events leading toward CPS CEO Pedro Martinez’s termination and upcoming departure from CPS:

Madigan, who is charged alongside McClain, is alleged to have orchestrated multiple corruption schemes, wielding his political power to reward loyal allies and enrich himself. Both men are each charged with racketeering, bribery and wire fraud and each have pleaded not guilty.

The board announced a special meeting for Friday evening where it will take up only a small handful of items, including the schools chief’s possible termination and a settlement with CPS.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is charged alongside his longtime right-hand man Michael McClain, is alleged to have orchestrated multiple corruption schemes, wielding his political power to reward loyal allies and enrich himself.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability said it is investigating an “off-duty officer involved incident” after a 26-year-old man was struck during an exchange of gunfire in the 1000 block of South Mayfield Avenue.

“What we’ve heard from the families is that we should not close these schools,” CPS Chief Portfolio Officer Alfonso Carmona told the Chicago Board of Education during its Thursday meeting.