Stories by Matt Masterson
CPS, CTU to Hold First-Ever Contract Negotiation Session Open to the Public Friday
| Matt Masterson
The CTU announced the sides have agreed to schedule an open contract bargaining session Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Marquette Elementary School, 6550 S. Richmond St., in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood.
8 People Killed by Gunfire Over Weekend Across Chicago: Police
| Matt Masterson
An 18-year-old woman fatally shot as she sat in a vehicle early Sunday morning in West Englewood was among eight people killed by gunfire over the weekend across Chicago.
Appellate Court Finds CPS Did Not Violate School Closure Moratorium When It Revoked Charters of Urban Prep Academies
| Matt Masterson
An Illinois appellate court this week ruled that Chicago Public Schools did not violate a moratorium on school closures when it voted down charter renewals for a pair of South Side high schools.
‘Our Officers Will Be Ready’: Chicago Police Detail Protest Response and Safety Plans Ahead of DNC
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Police Department held an open training session at McCormick Place, where police demonstrated for media the different measures and strategies the department is planning to deploy during the August convention.
Living Near Violence Can Negatively Impact Academic Performance. A New Study Looks at What Schools Can Do to Mitigate That
| Matt Masterson
“There’s no silver bullet here,” study author David Johnson said. “But there is some really solid evidence that the work that schools are doing matters. And I think that’s really exciting and important.”
2 Men Face Murder Charges After Young Father Killed on Way to Work on Chicago’s Northwest Side
| Matt Masterson
Chicago police officials on Tuesday announced first-degree murder and armed robbery charges against 32-year-old Divonte Calhoun and Justin Redmond, 41, nearly a month after the killing of 24-year-old Zet Rodriguez.
New Lawsuit Details More Allegations of Sex Abuse in Illinois Youth Centers Over 2 Decades
| Matt Masterson
“This is abuse that occurred at the hands of those who were hired to protect and educate the residents of these facilities,” attorney Todd Mathews said Monday. “Instead, they created a horrific environment and performed unspeakable acts on these survivors.”
Shootings, Homicides in Chicago at Lowest Levels Since 2019: Police
| Matt Masterson
Through the end of May, there have been 204 homicides and 979 shootings, both of which are the lowest totals for any year in Chicago since 2019.
At Least 3 People Killed by Gunfire Over Weekend Across Chicago: Police
| Matt Masterson
A man who was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in the Back of the Yards neighborhood Sunday was among at least three people killed by gunfire across Chicago over the weekend.
Johnson Announces Plans to Expand Chicago’s Mental Health Services, Reopen Roseland Mental Health Clinic
| Matt Masterson
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced plans to reopen the city-run Roseland Mental Health Center by the end of this year, and open two other mental health service sites at the Legler Regional Library on the West Side and at the Chicago Department of Public Health’s Lower West Side vaccine clinic in Pilsen.
Chicago Police Show Signs of ‘Significant’ Improvements in Mass Gathering Response Plans, but Concerns Around ‘Outdated’ Draft Policies Persist Ahead of DNC: Watchdog Report
| Matt Masterson
Chicago police are better prepared to handle the large protests and crowds expected during the upcoming Democratic National Convention, but concerns still exist around the police department’s ability to put those preparations into action, a new watchdog report found.
2 Men Convicted of Disguising Themselves as Law Enforcement to Kidnap, Rob Victims in Chicago Suburbs
| Matt Masterson
Sedgwick Williams, 47, and Tai Hon La, 34, were each convicted on kidnapping charges this month following a two-week trial in Chicago’s federal court building. Both men face a possible sentence of up to life in prison.
CPS Releases New School Budgets, Showing ‘Tighter’ Resources for Some Amid Budget Shortfall. Find How Your School Fared
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools on Tuesday published individual school-level budgets amid as some have expressed concerns about how the district’s new funding model could affect its selective enrollment and magnet schools.
5-Year-Old Girl Among at Least 9 People Killed by Gunfire Over Memorial Day Weekend Across Chicago: Police
| Matt Masterson
The 5-year-old, Reig Ware, was fatally shot at around 3:30 a.m. Sunday in the 200 block of South Campbell Avenue.
Chicago Police Intend to Be More ‘Judicious’ in Canceling Officers’ Days Off as City Announces Summer Safety Plans
| Matt Masterson
Mayor Brandon Johnson, speaking Friday at the Chicago Cultural Center, joined Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling and other department leaders to unveil the city’s summer safety plans ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
Mayor Johnson’s Pick for RTA Board Withdraws From Consideration After Aldermanic Pushback
| Matt Masterson
The Rev. Ira Acree, who was selected by Mayor Brandon Johnson to serve on the board, announced Friday he is no longer seeking that seat due to aldermanic resistance that began after he faced pointed questions during his confirmation hearing earlier this month.
Chicago School Board Approves New 4-Year Contract With Support Staff Backed by SEIU Local 73
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Board of Education unanimously approved a new agreement with unionized staffers represented by Service Employees International Union Local 73.
Chicago Education, Union Officials Agree to Hold Public Bargaining Sessions During Teachers Contract Negotiations
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jackson Potter confirmed the union and school district have agreed to hold open bargaining sessions that will allow community stakeholders to attend negotiations for the first time.
Chicago-Area Music Promoter Charged Alongside Rapper G Herbo in Credit Card Fraud Scheme Pleads Guilty
| Matt Masterson
Antonio M. Strong, 31, of Lansing, Illinois, pleaded guilty Wednesday in a Massachusetts federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud.
Chicago School Board Set to Sign Off on New Contract Agreement With SEIU Local 73-Backed Support Staff
| Matt Masterson
SEIU Local 73 says it represents more than 11,000 CPS support staff, including special education classroom assistants, custodians, crossing guards, bus aides, security officers and parent workers. CPS and the union had been negotiating on a contract for a year.
45 People Shot Over Weekend Across Chicago, Including 6 Injured in Mass Shooting: Police
| Matt Masterson
According to Chicago Police Department figures, 45 people were shot, 1 fatally, in 31 separate shooting incidents recorded between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
6 Charged in Fraud Scheme Accused of Staging Fake Robberies in Effort to Help ‘Victims’ Obtain US Visas
| Matt Masterson
Six people are accused of staging fake robberies at various restaurants and businesses in and around Chicago in an effort to help make the purported “victims” eligible for U.S. visas.
Chicago Tribune Journalists Suing Newspaper Over Alleged Pay Discrimination
| Matt Masterson
The journalists filed a class-action lawsuit against the Chicago Tribune, the Tribune Publishing Company and Alden Global Capital, alleging they’ve faced pay discrimination based on gender, race and ethnicity as a result of the defendants’ “centralized policies and practices.”
Illinois Moving Back to ACT as Required Exam for High School Graduation
| Matt Masterson
The Illinois State Board of Education on Wednesday awarded a six-year, $53 million contract to the ACT, Inc. organization, meaning high schoolers statewide will shift back to the ACT after taking SAT exams for most of the past decade.
Former Augusta National Employee Pleads Guilty in Chicago to Stealing $5M Worth of Masters Items — Including Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan Green Jackets
| Matt Masterson
Green jackets belonging to golf legends Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan were among the millions of dollars worth of memorabilia and items a former Augusta National Golf Club employee has admitted to stealing.
CPS Details New Safety Plan as District Prepares to Remove Resource Officers From Schools
| Matt Masterson
As Chicago Public Schools moves to fully remove police officers from its buildings, education officials are planning a phased-in approach to its new school safety plans.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
2026 Chicago Summer Festival Guide
Duckworth, Durbin Call on Andrew Boutros to Step Down as Chicago’s U.S. Attorney Amid ‘Chaos,’ ‘Dysfunction’
Brandon Johnson Takes Victory Lap After State Budget Green Lights Digital Ad Tax
2026 Chicago Garden Walk Guide: A Showcase for Urban Oases
Obama Presidential Center Is Ready for Its Close-Up: First Look at Obama Foundation’s ‘Beacon of Hope’ and Economic Engine
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter