Stories by Matt Masterson
Man Convicted of Shooting ATF Agent Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Prison
| Matt Masterson
Ernesto Godinez, 29, the reputed gang member convicted of shooting a federal agent in the head last year on the Southwest Side, has been sentenced to more 200 months in federal prison.
Retired Police Commander Sentenced to Probation for Social Security Theft
Kenneth Johnson pleaded guilty to stealing more than $360,000
| Matt Masterson
Federal prosecutors say Kenneth Johnson continued accepting Social Security checks meant for his mother for more than two decades after her death. His sentence includes six months of community confinement and an order to pay back all the money he stole.
Lightfoot Fires Top Cop Eddie Johnson for ‘Intolerable Actions’
| Matt Masterson
Mayor Lori Lightfoot makes a bombshell announcement: Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson is terminated, effective immediately. Lightfoot says an inspector general’s investigation revealed Johnson “repeatedly lied” to both the mayor and the public.
Benefit Concert to Help Cover Hospital Bills of Teen Wounded in Police Shooting
| Matt Masterson
Fifteen-year-old Rylan Wilder remains hospitalized after he was shot last week as police trailed a bank robbery suspect in the Old Irving Park neighborhood.
Jason Van Dyke Being Held in Maryland Facility
| Matt Masterson
Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke is being held in a facility in Baltimore, Maryland, as he awaits placement inside another prison. He was moved out of federal custody this week.
Jason Van Dyke No Longer in Federal Custody
| Matt Masterson
Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke is no longer being held in a federal prison in New York – or in federal custody, period – but it’s unclear where he will serve out the remainder of his sentence for the murder of black teen Laquan McDonald in 2014.
Family of Teen Shot by Suburban Officer Files Suit Against Bank Robber
| Matt Masterson
The family of Rylan Wilder, who was wounded last week during a confrontation between a bank robbery suspect and police, is suing that suspect and asking local police departments for more information about their son’s shooting.
Family of Mercy Hospital Shooting Victim Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit
| Matt Masterson
The father of slain pharmacist Dayna Less is suing Mercy Hospital and its security firm, claiming their “systemic failures” allowed a domestic violence incident “escalate into a triple homicide.”
Federal Prosecutors to Participate in ‘Project Guardian’ to Target Chicago Gun Crime
| Matt Masterson
Federal prosecutors in Chicago say their office is entering into a new Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing gun violence through coordinated prosecutions and new or improved background check enforcements.
Smollett Says He Was Maliciously Prosecuted in Counterclaim Against City
| Matt Masterson
Former “Empire” star Jussie Smollett has filed a federal counterclaim against the city of Chicago claiming he owes the city no more money and was maliciously prosecuted for the alleged hoax attack police say he orchestrated on himself.
Expungement Request Denied for Ex-CPD Detective Dante Servin in Rekia Boyd Case
| Matt Masterson
The family of Rekia Boyd erupted into applause Tuesday after a judge denied a request from the man who was charged and acquitted in her killing – a former Chicago police detective – to expunge any record of his criminal case from the public’s view.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx Will Seek Re-Election in 2020
| Matt Masterson
In her first campaign ad for 2020, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx acknowledges missteps in the Jussie Smollett case and calls out critics like President Donald Trump and the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police.
Board of Education to Vote on New Budget, Strike Make-Up Days
| Matt Masterson
Days after the Chicago Teachers Union voted to approve a new five-year contract with the city, the Chicago Board of Education is expected to follow suit at its regular monthly meeting this week.
CTU Members Vote to Ratify 5-Year Contract
| Matt Masterson
Two weeks after ending their historic work stoppage, more than 25,000 rank-and-file Chicago Teachers Union members ratified their new contract with the city.
Ex-Chicago Detective Acquitted in Rekia Boyd Killing Wants Court Records Expunged
Judge will rule on Dante Servin’s petition at a hearing next week
| Matt Masterson
Former Chicago police Detective Dante Servin was found not guilty of Rekia Boyd’s killing in 2016. Now he wants any record of his criminal trial removed from the public eye – a move family members call a “terrible slap in the face.”
CTU’s Strike Remains Suspended. To End it, 25,000 Teachers Must Ratify New Contract
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Teachers Union’s 11-day strike is suspended, but it’s not officially over until rank-and-file members vote to ratify a five-year tentative contract agreement reached with the city. That vote begins Thursday.
Heating Issues Hit Kenwood Academy High School for 2nd Straight Day
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools said heating issues at the school had been fixed Tuesday. But on Wednesday the district said several classrooms were suffering from insufficient heat circulation as temperatures across the city remained below freezing.
Kenwood Academy Suffers Heat Loss During Record Cold Spell in Chicago
| Matt Masterson
A broken heater inside a South Side high school left students in classrooms without normal heat circulation on a day with record cold temperatures.
1 Dead, 3 Others Stabbed After Argument Over Minor Car Crash
| Matt Masterson
Chicago police say a 28-year-old man is dead after he was stabbed in the chest during a confrontation on the 5300 block of West Irving Park Road just after 2 a.m. Monday morning.
CPS Enrollment Declines By 6,000 Students
| Matt Masterson
Fewer students are enrolled at Chicago Public Schools this year compared to last year, according to figures released by the district Friday. But CPS says the drop-off is “significantly” smaller than declines in recent school years.
Ex-LAPD Top Cop Charlie Beck Named Interim Chicago Police Superintendent
| Matt Masterson
Charlie Beck, who led the Los Angeles Police Department for nearly a decade, has been tabbed to serve as the interim Chicago police superintendent following Eddie Johnson’s retirement at the end of the year.
Top Cop Eddie Johnson Announces Retirement: ‘It’s Time’
Police superintendent will serve through the end of 2019
| Matt Masterson
It’s official: Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson will retire at the end of the year. He made his announcement Thursday flanked by family members and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, celebrating what he says has been a reduction in crime on his watch.
Mayor Lightfoot on Eddie Johnson Retirement Reports: ‘He’s Still Here’
| Matt Masterson
Earlier this week, Eddie Johnson said he’s been “toying” with the idea of stepping down after three years as police superintendent. But Lightfoot wouldn’t say Wednesday if she expects that to happen soon.
CPS Announces Dates of 5 Make-Up Days Following Teachers Strike
| Matt Masterson
The school district says it will spread five make-up days across the rest of the year. CPS Chief Education Officer LaTanya McDade joins us to discuss the 11-day strike, recent negotiations and a new teachers contract.
Chicago Man Who Says He Was Tortured Into False Confession Now Suing City, Police Officers
| Matt Masterson
Arnold Day claims he was tortured into falsely confessing to two murders in 1991. After 26 years in prison, he’s now suing the city of Chicago.
Chicago Police Publish New Data on Civilian Complaints
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Police Department on Monday released data on each of the 40,497 total officer misconduct complaints filed between January 2007 and February 2019. What that data shows.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
Chicago Bears Say They Are Moving Forward With a Move to Indiana
Stacey King, Longtime Bulls Broadcaster Who Played on Three Championship Teams, Dies at 59
Obama Presidential Center Is Ready for Its Close-Up: First Look at Obama Foundation’s ‘Beacon of Hope’ and Economic Engine
ComEd CEO on Rate Increase, Data Centers and Bouncing Back From Scandal
Chicago Sees Fewest May Homicides in Decades, But Shootings Remain Ahead of Last Year’s Pace
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter