Stories by Matt Masterson

Former Ald. Ed Burke in federal court before U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall on Nov. 16, 2023. (WTTW News)

Jurors Hear From Ed Burke in Secret Audio, Video Recorded By Fellow Ald. Danny Solis

Evidence in Burke’s landmark corruption case moved into the third of four schemes the former 14th Ward alderman allegedly spearheaded, this one involving the massive Old Post Office building, which had been left vacant and run down for years before it was sold to 601 West Companies in 2016.

Former Ald. Ed Burke observes testimony about Chicago’s 14th Ward, which he represented for 54 years, during a federal trial on Nov. 17, 2023. (WTTW News)

COVID-19 Slows Former Ald. Ed Burke’s Corruption Trial For Second Time as Testimony Around Burger King Allegations Continues

Unlike last time when the landmark corruption case was put on hold for a week, proceedings continued briefly Monday before the parties broke until Tuesday.

Former Ald. Ed Burke in federal court before U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall on Nov. 16, 2023. (WTTW News)

‘I’d Also Like to Get Some of His Law Business’: Jurors Hear Evidence of Former Ald. Ed Burke’s Alleged Attempt to Extort Burger King Owners

Jurors on Tuesday began hearing evidence of the second of four criminal schemes the longtime 14th Ward alderperson was allegedly involved in — this one involving remodeling work at a Burger King restaurant that was located in Burke’s district.

The derailed train. (Credit: Chicago Fire Department)

2 New Lawsuits Filed Following CTA Yellow Line Crash

Attorneys from the Chicago-based Clifford Law Offices announced Wednesday they’ve filed two additional lawsuits against the CTA, which allege that the commuter train was operated negligently.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Pair of 14-Year-Old Boys Killed in Chatham Shooting Sunday: Police

At least three teenagers were fatally shot over the weekend across Chicago, including a pair of 14-year-old boys killed in the Chatham neighborhood Sunday and a 16-year-old boy who died Saturday.

Former Ald. Ed Burke observes testimony about Chicago’s 14th Ward, which he represented for 54 years, during a federal trial on Nov. 17, 2023. (WTTW News)

‘A Fixture in Chicago Politics’: Testimony Begins in Ed Burke Corruption Trial With Crash Course on City Council

Federal prosecutors called their first witness Friday afternoon in the longtime alderman’s landmark corruption trial — Elmhurst College professor Constance Mixon, who gave the jury a crash course in the city’s political system.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

CPD Consent Decree Monitor Holding Public Hearings to Build Transparency, Improve Compliance

The Chicago Police Department has reached full compliance on just 6% of its consent decree requirements. Independent monitor Maggie Hickey expressed a belief that additional transparency will help bring police in line with necessary reforms.

Lawyers and defendants in the Ed Burke trial appear before Judge Virgina Kendall on Nov. 16, 2023. (WTTW News)

Jury Picked in Corruption Trial of Former Ald. Ed Burke

After a weeklong delay after an attorney tested positive for COVID-19, a jury was picked Thursday to decide the federal corruption trial of former Ald. Ed Burke and his two co-defendants.

(WTTW News)

Federal Prosecutors May Seek to Put ‘ComEd Four’ Behind Bars for Life, Defense Attorney Says

At a hearing Wednesday morning, attorneys for the so-called “ComEd Four” argued that the scheduled January sentencing dates should be pushed back by a month in order to allow their defense teams to better prepare their sentencing briefings.

(WTTW News)

Chicago Firefighter Dies Battling Lincoln Park Blaze

Chicago Fire Department officials confirmed Andrew “Drew” Price was killed after suffering injuries during a fire in the 2400 block of North Lincoln Avenue.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

7 People Killed in Shootings Across Chicago Over Weekend: Police

According to the Chicago Police Department, 20 people were shot in 18 separate shooting incidents between Friday evening and Sunday night. Those victims included at least one juvenile who was killed.

Former Ald. Ed Burke and his legal team in federal court before U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall on Nov. 6, 2023. (WTTW News)

Following Sluggish Start and COVID Delay, Trial of Former Ald. Ed Burke to Resume This Week

It was expected that during the first week of the longtime 14th Ward alderperson’s landmark racketeering trial a 12-person jury would be seated, opening arguments would be given and witness testimony would begin. Instead, none of those things happened.

(WTTW News)

‘ComEd Four’ Seeking to Delay Sentencing Dates

The four former Commonwealth Edison officials convicted this year for their efforts to bribe ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan are seeking to push back their sentencing dates, but federal prosecutors claim there’s “no good reason” to do so.

(WTTW News)

Chicago Police Officer Charged, Relieved of Police Powers After Allegedly Striking Student at School: Report

Officer Craig Lancaster, an active member of the Chicago Police Department, has reportedly been charged with aggravated battery following a May incident with 14-year-old JaQuwaun Williams outside Gresham Elementary School.

(WTTW News)

Ex-CTA Clerk Who Pleaded Guilty to Stealing $350K From Retirement Fund Sentenced to Year in Prison

A federal judge this week sentenced 51-year-old Ayanna Nesbitt to one year and one day in prison after she entered a guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.

Former Ald. Ed Burke and his legal team in federal court before U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall on Nov. 6, 2023. (WTTW News)

‘Chicago Politics?’ ‘Messy’: Jury Selection Continues For a Second Day in Former Ald. Ed Burke’s Corruption Case

The selection process, which began slowly Monday morning, has continued at a leisurely pace throughout Tuesday. No jurors have yet been officially seated to hear the case.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Man Killed, Chicago Police Officer Wounded in South Shore Shooting Monday

According to a statement from the Chicago Police Department, the shooting occurred just before noon Monday in the 7300 block of South Dante Avenue.

Robert E. Crimo Jr. appears before Judge George D. Strickland at the Lake County Courthouse, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Waukegan, Ill. (AP Photo  /Nam Y. Huh, Pool)

Father of Alleged Highland Park Gunman Pleads Guilty to Reckless Conduct Charges as Trial Was Set to Begin, Gets 60 Days in Prison

Just as proceedings were set to begin, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart announced that Robert Crimo Jr. had agreed to plead guilty to seven Class A misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct, rather than the seven felony charges he had faced.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Shootings, Homicides in Chicago Continue Downward Trend in 2023 Compared to Recent Years: Police

With two months left in 2023, Chicago remains on pace for double-digit percentage declines in the number of homicides and shootings recorded in the city as violence crime rates return to pre-pandemic levels.

Attorney George Gomez, left, speaks to Judge George D. Strickland as Robert E. Crimo Jr., looks on during an appearance at the Lake County Courthouse, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Waukegan, Ill. (AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh, Pool)

Father of Alleged Highland Park Parade Gunman Heads to Trial on Charges He Recklessly Helped Son Obtain Firearms

The bench trial of Robert Crimo Jr. is set to begin Monday in Lake County, more than 16 months after his son — Robert Crimo III — allegedly killed seven people and wounded dozens more during the Highland Park Fourth of July parade.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Despite Lingering Concerns, Consent Decree Monitoring Team Hopeful New Top Cop Can Spur Progress as Full Compliance Stands at 6%

The independent monitoring team that oversees the CPD’s consent decree implementation published its eighth semi-annual report this week, which found that although the department has reached some level of compliance with 85% of paragraphs, it has only fully complied with 33 out of 552 paragraphs.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, alongside Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and Mayor Brandon Johnson, announces criminal charges in a Halloween party shooting during a Oct. 31, 2023 press conference. (WTTW News)

Chicago Man Charged After North Lawndale Halloween Party Mass Shooting That Left 15 Wounded

William Groves, 48, has been charged with 15 counts of attempted first-degree murder, 15 counts of aggravated battery, 15 counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm in an occupied building and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Attorney George Gomez, left, speaks to Judge George D. Strickland as Robert E. Crimo Jr., looks on during an appearance at the Lake County Courthouse, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Waukegan, Ill. (AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh, Pool)

Alleged Highland Park Parade Gunman Won’t Testify at Father’s Reckless Conduct Trial

Attorneys for Robert Crimo Jr., who is set to go to trial next week on seven counts of reckless conduct, had sought to call his son — alleged parade shooter Robert Crimo III — to testify in his defense.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

15 People Wounded in Halloween Party Shooting Early Sunday: Police

No one was killed, but two people were listed in critical condition and the other 13 victims were hospitalized in fair or good condition following the shooting that took place at around 1 a.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of South Pulaski Road.

(PublicDomainPictures / Pixabay)

Chicago Man Charged After Wave of Arsons Targeting Halloween Decorations in Lincoln Square, North Center

Chicago police on Wednesday announced Mario Munoz, 34, has been arrested and charged with a felony count of arson and a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.

(WTTW News)

Man Facing Hate Crime Charges After Allegedly Discharging Pepper Spray at Skokie Rally

Skokie police announced Zevulen Ebert has been charged with two felony battery counts and two felony hate crime counts stemming from an incident at a rally Sunday.