Stories by Matt Masterson

Chicago Public Schools once again scored the top five public high schools in the state of Illinois, according to the annual list. All five of those schools were also ranked among the top 100 nationally.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services had multiple contacts with Freund's family over reports of neglect and abuse in the months and years before the 5-year-old was found dead.

Federal prosecutors say this extra time is necessary due to the “complex nature” of the ongoing investigation of the 14th Ward alderman.

Robert Berrios, 51, was convicted of carrying out nine separate robberies in 2012 that netted a total of more than $115,000 in cash, according to federal prosecutors.

The brothers say Smollett's legal team knowingly made defamatory, false statements, claiming the pair had carried out a real hate crime against their client.

“Doing what was done to these kids is just not something you’re supposed to do to kids in a juvenile detention setting,” an attorney for the juveniles said Monday.

Days after agreeing to pay a $100,000 fine to help settle claims that it discriminated against customers, the Suburban Express bus line is facing more issues stemming from its consent decree with the state.

Weeks after recusing herself from the felony prosecution of “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx sent texts to her second-in-command about the case, saying it appeared the office was “overcharging” the actor.

Spencer Technology Academy teacher Myra Timms, 33, is facing a misdemeanor battery charge after she allegedly made physical contact with one of her male students last week.

State law enforcement and education officials want to spread the word about Illinois’ “move over” law after 16 state troopers were struck on roads in the first four months of 2019.

City officials have made good on their threat of legal action against Jussie Smollett, filing a civil lawsuit that seeks to recoup the cost of a police investigation into what they believe was a staged attack the actor orchestrated on himself.

More than 90% of individuals in the gang database are people of color, according to Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson, who says that puts a strain on police-community relations. “There’s an extraordinary adverse effect on certain communities.”

An evidentiary hearing that began Wednesday will be used to determine whether four officers can keep their jobs following accusations they lied about what happened the night Laquan McDonald was killed.

Nearly one out of every three criminal exonerations in the U.S. last year occurred in Illinois, according to a new report. Most of those cases stemmed from disgraced former police Sgt. Ronald Watts and his crew.

Posing as an escort online, a suburban man convinced underage boys to send him pornographic images of themselves, then used those images to blackmail some of his victims into having sex with him. 

Two Chicago police officers are in stable condition after their squad vehicle was struck overnight by an alleged drunk driver who ran a red light in the Lakeview neighborhood.

“Ms. Foxx needs to resign and she should do it quickly,” Chicago police union President Kevin Graham said at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

Jaquan Washington faces one count of first-degree murder in connection to the fatal shooting last month of Chicago police Officer John Rivera, who was sitting inside his car in River North.

Janiah Monroe was transferred this week after repeatedly claiming she’d been the victim of sexual harassment and abuse inside various all-male prisons. 

Brittani Rice, 18, and Senobia Brantley, 19, were both killed late Monday in what police believe may have been a “targeted” attack on the South Side.

Anthony Jakes was just 15 years old when he says he was held by police for 16 hours and beaten into falsely confessing to participating in a 1991 murder. He served 20 years before he was released from prison.

Attorney Steve Greenberg believes the celebrity attorney may have “bullied” or “manipulated” the Cook County state’s attorney into filing sexual abuse charges against R. Kelly.

The Jussie Smollett case may be over, but confusion over the surprise ending is rampant. Why was the “Empire” star offered a deal? Was his record expunged? We tackle those questions and more.

Jussie Smollett has already forfeited $10,000 to the city of Chicago following the hoax attack he allegedly orchestrated on himself. But if Mayor Rahm Emanuel has his way, that bill will grow to $130,000.

“I stand behind how this office, and how I in particular, handled this case,” Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said a day after felony disorderly conduct charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett were dropped.

“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett exited the Leighton Criminal Court Building a free man Tuesday morning after prosecutors unexpectedly dropped felony charges against him in a case that’s garnered national headlines for months.