Stories by Matt Masterson

The stunning announcement comes after John Catanzara, the head of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, spent hours testifying at his own termination hearing Monday.

According to Chicago Police Department data, 21 people were shot in 18 shooting incidents over the weekend in the city.

The decision to recommend a suspension for slain officer Ella French was the “height of tone-deafness,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Friday, after a police watchdog agency issued disciplinary recommendations for those involved in the 2019 raid at Anjanette Young’s home.

Isaiah Hudson, 24, appeared in court Thursday following his arrest on charges of first-degree murder, unlawful use of weapon and armed habitual criminal stemming from the fatal Sept. 1 shooting.

In a joint letter, UChicago President Paul Alivisatos and Provost Ka Yee C. Lee said they’ve spoken with city leaders about formalizing “a number of short and longer-term public safety strategies specifically” for Hyde Park and its surrounding communities.

While the COVID-19 vaccine has now been approved for younger children, Chicago could find itself in the midst of another coronavirus surge this winter if families wait too long to get their children vaccinated, the city’s top doctor said Tuesday.

The victims included a 16-year-old boy who was killed in Garfield Park on Saturday afternoon and a 36-year-old man who was fatally shot following a confrontation as he tried to park his car in his garage in Belmont Cragin.

Jacqueline Villasenor was charged with a single count of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the death Tuesday of her husband and fellow Chicago Police Department officer, 44-year-old German Villasenor.

Classes for Chicago Public Schools students will be canceled Friday, Nov. 12 to allow families an opportunity to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19, now that the vaccine has been approved for kids ages 5 to 11.

“Today is a step towards righting the wrongs of the past and giving these individuals their names back,” Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said.

Niquita Booker, 27, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder following the fatal shooting Sunday of 22-year-old Kailah Bledsoe in the Gresham neighborhood.

“Our schools have been incredibly resilient throughout this pandemic, and CPS is committed to supporting our dedicated principals and staff as we navigate the unique challenges of the past and current school years,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said in a statement.

A Cook County judge won’t throw out Chicago’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate entirely, but in a ruling Monday he has put a hold on a Dec. 31 deadline for members of the Chicago Police Department to get fully vaccinated.

"We will do what it takes, individually and collectively, to address the immediate violence on our streets and invest in fighting the underlying causes that cause too much despair, too much addiction, too little mental health treatment and too few opportunities,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday.

Those killed included a 22-year-old woman and two men who were fatally shot in separate incidents on Halloween, the Chicago Police Department announced.

The Illinois State Board of Education on Friday released enrollment and other data for the 2021-22 school year in its annual report card, which shows statewide enrollment fell from 1,957,018 students last year down to 1,887,316 students.

Mauricio Ramirez, 32, was ordered held on $500,000 bail Thursday after he was charged with criminal sexual assault to a victim between the ages of 13-17 and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 18.

Chicago Public Schools on Wednesday announced that its 20th-day enrollment stands at 330,411 students. That’s a 3% decline from the 340,658 students who were enrolled in the district last year.

Cook County Judge Cecilia Horan on Monday evening denied a request seeking to extend a temporary restraining order against John Catanzara, who had repeatedly urged Fraternal Order of Police members not to give their vaccination status to Chicago officials.

Milixen Ardon, 24, and Wilfredo Cruz, 43, were each held without bail following their arrests on charges of first-degree murder in the death of Ardon’s 2-year-old daughter Alison Zerais Ardon.

CPS officials on Thursday announced a five-year graduation rate for its high school students, while the district simultaneously recorded its lowest-ever one-year dropout rate.

Fraternal Order of Police attorneys argued Cook County Judge Cecilia Horan should step aside because she didn’t disclose that a law firm she previously worked at was involved with the Police Accountability Task Force, which was chaired by Lori Lightfoot prior to her election as Chicago mayor.

According to Police Superintendent David Brown, about 67% of officers have provided their vaccination status to the city, and of those 82% are vaccinated. But 21 officers have refused to share their vaccination status with the city.

Jovan McPherson was held without bail Tuesday following his arrest on felony charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery of a peace officer, unlawful use of weapon, armed kidnapping and aggravated unlawful restraint stemming from a Monday shooting.

The shooting occurred in the 1000 block of West North Avenue at around 3:30 p.m. Monday. The wounded officer was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital and is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Data published Monday morning by the CPD shows there were 21 separate shooting incidents throughout the city during that time, and 22 total people were struck.