Stories by Matt Masterson
US Attorney Suing Cubs Over Alleged ADA Violations at Wrigley Field
| Matt Masterson
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois filed a civil suit against the Cubs, alleging the team discriminated against people with disabilities in renovating Wrigley Field under its extensive reconstruction endeavor known as “the 1060 Project.”
Suspect in Shooting of Chicago Police Officer Arrested in Iowa
| Matt Masterson
Police Superintendent David Brown on Wednesday said 28-year-old Jabari Edwards was arrested in Burlington, Iowa and will face two counts of attempted murder stemming from the June 1 shooting.
Officer Who Struck Activist Miracle Boyd at 2020 Grant Park Protest Has Resigned
| Matt Masterson
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability in a statement Wednesday said it has learned an officer who was facing a possible termination, has instead resigned from the Chicago Police Department. Due to that, COPA also released its investigatory findings from the July 2020 incident and recommended that Officer Nicholas Jovanovich, Sergeant Kevin Gleeson and Lieutenant Godfrey Cronin all be fired from the department.
Illinois AG Warns Donors of Potential Scams Tied to Highland Park Mass Shooting
| Matt Masterson
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Wednesday urged potential donors and surviving victims to use caution and be on alert for scams related to the July 4 shooting that left seven people dead and dozens more wounded.
R. Kelly Returned to Chicago Corrections Center Ahead of Upcoming Federal Trial
| Matt Masterson
Federal records show that R. Kelly is currently being housed in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago following an extended stay in a New York detention center during his racketeering and sex trafficking trial in that jurisdiction.
Chicago to Begin Sending Out Checks to Residents Who Applied for Security Camera, GPS Tracker Rebates
| Matt Masterson
Since its launch last month, more than 2,100 people have applied for rebates through the city’s Home and Business Protection Program, Chicago officials said Tuesday.
No Bail for Trio Charged in Shooting Outside Bar That Left Off-Duty Police Officer Paralyzed
| Matt Masterson
According to Cook County prosecutors, a 22-year-old man fired 19 shots at a crowd of people outside Sean's Rhino Bar & Grill, 10330 S. Western Ave., striking a 31-year-old off-duty Chicago police officer in the back.
32 People Wounded, 1 Killed in Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police
| Matt Masterson
Two more people were killed in separate shootings early Monday morning and another man was wounded in a shootout inside a South Loop parking garage.
Jerry Harris, of Netflix’s ‘Cheer’ Fame, Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Sex Crimes Case
| Matt Masterson
Jerry Harris, 22, entered a guilty plea on charges of knowingly receiving child pornography and engaging in illicit sexual conduct during a remote hearing before a Chicago judge Wednesday afternoon.
No Bond For 21-Year-Old Man Charged in Highland Park Parade Shooting; Considered Second Attack
| Matt Masterson
The man charged with killing seven people at Highland Park’s Fourth of July parade allegedly confessed his involvement to investigators, telling them he “looked down his sights, aimed and opened fire” at parade-goers, while stopping twice to reload his high-powered rifle with 30-round magazines.
Alleged Shooter Charged With 7 Counts of First-Degree Murder in ‘Carefully Executed’ Highland Park Attack
| Matt Masterson
If convicted of those charges, Robert Crimo III faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, said Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart. Crimo will also face “dozens” of more charges to account for each of the 38 victims who were wounded, as well as those who were “psychologically harmed,” Rinehart said.
68 People Shot, 8 Killed in Shootings Across Chicago Over July 4th Weekend: Police
| Matt Masterson
According to Chicago Police Department data, 68 people were shot in 51 separate shootings between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday night during the holiday weekend.
CPS Teacher, Her Husband Among Those Wounded in Highland Park Mass Shooting
GoFundMe has raised more than $130,000 as of Monday
| Matt Masterson
Zoe Kolpack, a pre-kindergarten teacher at William Dever Elementary, and her husband were among those wounded during Monday's mass shooting. A GoFundMe has already collected more than $130,000 for their medical bills.
Shootings, Homicides Down This Year, But Chicago Still on Pace to Top 600 Killings in 2022: Police
| Matt Masterson
Data published Friday by the Chicago Police Department shows there have been 310 homicides and 1,255 shootings in the city through the end of June. Both those figures are below the pace set through the first six months of 2021 and 2020.
Chicago Police Officer in Serious Condition After Being Shot on Near West Side
| Matt Masterson
The officer was shot multiple times and was rushed to Stroger Hospital, police said.
Federal Judge Won’t Toss Charges or Sever Cases in R. Kelly’s Upcoming Chicago Trial
| Matt Masterson
A day after R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison following his racketeering conviction in New York, a federal judge has denied a request to throw out additional charges against the R&B singer ahead of his upcoming trial in Chicago.
Illinois Launches ‘State-of-the-Art’ Firearm Tracing Database
| Matt Masterson
Attorney General Kwame Raoul was in Chicago Wednesday to announce the launch of Crime Gun Connect — an online platform that allows police departments to access gun trace records more efficiently than ever.
Kathy Salvi Declares Victory in GOP Senate Primary as She Seeks to Challenge Tammy Duckworth
| Matt Masterson
CNN is projecting former public defender Kathy Salvi to defeat Casey Chlebek, Peggy Hubbard, Robert Piton, Jimmy Lee Tillman II, Anthony Williams and Matthew Dubiel in Tuesday’s Republican primary.
Sean Casten Declares Victory Over Marie Newman in Race of Incumbents in 6th Congressional District
| Matt Masterson
Both candidates are current U.S. Representatives — Casten in the 6th District, Newman in the 3rd District — and are facing off in the 6th District, which includes many of Chicago’s western suburbs.
5-Month-Old Girl Among 6 People Fatally Shot Over Weekend in Chicago: Police
| Matt Masterson
According to Chicago police, 24 people were struck in 20 separate shootings between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday. That included 5-month-old Cecilia Thomas, who died Friday after being shot in South Shore.
Chicago Husband and Wife Among 6 Postal Workers Charged in Loan Fraud Scheme
| Matt Masterson
Louis Lay Jr. and his wife Erica Beck were each held on $20,000 D-bonds during a hearing Friday, a day after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced an indictment that included dozens of charges filed against six current or former postal workers.
City Launches New Dashboard to Track 911 Alternative Response Program
| Matt Masterson
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other city agencies announced the launch of the Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) program’s new data dashboard, which will provide regular updates on when and how these 911 calls are handled.
Ex-Chicago Officer’s Actions in North Avenue Beach Altercation Deemed ‘Abject Failure,’ COPA Finds
| Matt Masterson
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability recommended discipline ranging from a 180-day suspension to terminating Bruce Dyker from the Chicago Police Department. Dyker left the CPD and has been charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct.
CPS Chief Martinez Puts Plans For $120M Near South High School on Hold
Board of Education approves new CPS budgets
| Matt Masterson
Plans for a new Near South high school were suddenly put on hold Wednesday after Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez abruptly removed the item before the city’s Board of Education voted to approve the district’s budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.
Chicago Police Unveil Finalized Foot Pursuit Policy
| Matt Masterson
Chicago police officers must only engage in foot pursuits under a certain set of circumstances and will be required to continuously re-evaluate the need to continue such a pursuit while it’s in progress, according to a final version of the new policy.
61 People Shot, 10 Killed, Over Holiday Weekend in Chicago: Police
| Matt Masterson
Chicago police said there were 44 separate shootings between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday night. That included five people wounded in a mass shooting Friday night and an 18-year-old killed Monday afternoon.
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