Stories by Matt Masterson
Simeon Parents Speak Out on Behalf of Exiled Principal
| Matt Masterson
Parents from a South Side high school are calling on CPS leaders to bring back their ousted principal, a month after an investigation revealed he had failed to safeguard students from abuse.
Cursive Writing Coming Back to CPS Elementary Schools
District requiring students take writing course by 5th grade after state law change
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools is updating its teaching policy around the handwriting form to meet new state law requirements.
CPS to Revise Student Suspension, Bullying Guidelines
| Matt Masterson
The Board of Education this week will vote on updates to its student code of conduct policy in an effort to promote equitable discipline practices throughout the school district.
Activist Demands Release of Audio, Video From Augustus Shooting
| Matt Masterson
Seeking “full transparency,” local activist William Calloway files a lawsuit against the Chicago Police Department, pushing for the release of all unedited audio and video showing the fatal shooting Saturday of Harith Augustus.
Chicago Attorneys Blast ‘Reprehensible’ Suit Targeting Las Vegas Shooting Victims
| Matt Masterson
Lawyers say victims of an October 2017 mass shooting have been “targeted twice” following multiple lawsuits filed this week by Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International.
Van Dyke Case: Judge Sets September Trial Date
| Matt Masterson
Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke will stand trial Sept. 5 in the shooting death of teenager Laquan McDonald.
CPS Pledging to Add 250 New Social Workers, Case Managers
| Matt Masterson
The district says it will spend $26 million to add 160 social workers and 94 special education case managers in schools across the city.
Chicago Police Release Bodycam Footage of Officer-Involved Shooting
| Matt Masterson
Police officials waited less than 24 hours after a fatal shooting in the South Shore neighborhood to publish video footage of the incident involving 37-year-old Harith Augustus.
Attorney General Madigan Sues DOJ Over Withheld Federal Funding
| Matt Masterson
The U.S. Department of Justice is violating federal law by refusing to distribute millions in funding to Illinois due to a dispute over immigration policies, according to a lawsuit filed by the state attorney general.
CPS Watchdog Adding Staff for New Sex Abuse Investigations Team
| Matt Masterson
CPS Inspector General Nicholas Schuler is looking to hire a dozen employees to staff a new dedicated unit tasked with investigating sexual abuse allegations made by district students.
Van Dyke Case: Defense Expert Believes Change of Venue Necessary
| Matt Masterson
Three-quarters of Cook County residents familiar with the high-profile case believe suspended police Officer Jason Van Dyke is guilty, according to a survey conducted on behalf of the defense.
After Dan Ryan Shutdown, Pfleger Looks to Meet with Politicians, Candidates
| Matt Masterson
The Rev. Michael Pfleger says the response to Saturday’s massive anti-violence march has been extremely positive, calling the protest “a huge success.” What his follow-up plan is.
Dan Ryan March: Pfleger, Activists Shut Down Expressway for Anti-Violence Protest
| Matt Masterson
A controversial plan for an anti-violence march along a portion of the Dan Ryan Expressway got a green light Saturday from the Illinois State Police.
CPS Plans For New High School, Full-Day Pre-K and Facility Improvements in $1B Capital Budget
| Matt Masterson
The school district says this will be its largest capital spending plan in more than two decades. But the Chicago Teachers Union believes it’s a “hollow and dishonest” election-year stunt by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Mayor Emanuel: Anti-Violence Protesters Should be Allowed to March on Dan Ryan
| Matt Masterson
Days after Illinois State Police said they could arrest protesters who march Saturday along a portion of the busy expressway, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the protest should be allowed to go on as planned.
CPS Releases Building Inspection Results. Did Your School Pass or Fail?
| Matt Masterson
One in four CPS schools failed a recent round of blitz inspections designed to examine things like overall cleanliness and pest control. See if your school passed or failed its inspection.
‘Reckless’ Anti-Violence March on Dan Ryan Expressway Could Lead to Arrests: State Police
| Matt Masterson
Illinois State Police are asking the Rev. Michael Pfleger to reconsider a planned gun violence march on the Dan Ryan expressway this weekend, telling protesters they could face arrest and calling the potential for injury or loss of life “enormous.”
Lawsuit: Chicago State University Officer Threatened to Shoot Woman After Concert
| Matt Masterson
Karen Coruthers claims a CSU officer pointed his gun at her and her young daughter “without justification.” Now she’s suing the university’s Board of Trustees and others in federal court.
Van Dyke Case: ‘Prejudicial’ Media Coverage Cited in Defense Change of Venue Motion
| Matt Masterson
Attorneys for Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke say prejudicial and inflammatory comments made by public officials have amounted to a "public execution" of their client.
CPS Calls for ‘Over-Reporting’ of Sexual Abuse Allegations in Schools
| Matt Masterson
District officials wants employees to "over-report" anything they believe could be sexual abuse inside schools. But educators worry about the practicality of that proposal.
CPS Pulls 2 Principals From Schools After Sexual Abuse Investigation
| Matt Masterson
The announcement comes as CPS continues to deal with blowback from a Chicago Tribune series that detailed how the district repeatedly failed to protect students from sexual abuse and misconduct.
US Supreme Court Won’t Hear Dassey Appeal in ‘Making a Murderer’ Case
| Matt Masterson
Attorneys for Brendan Dassey say he was coerced as a teen into a murder confession. But with the high court's decision, he will remain in prison serving a life sentence.
CTU President Karen Lewis to Retire
| Matt Masterson
The powerful head of the Chicago Teachers Union cited her ongoing battle with brain cancer as the reason for stepping down, according to a statement to the Chicago Tribune.
CPS to Continue Free Lunch Program Over Summer Break
| Matt Masterson
Beginning Monday, children and teens across Chicago will have access to free lunches during the summer.
‘How Do We Trust You With Our Children?’ Lawmakers Grill CPS Leaders on Sex Abuse Scandal
| Matt Masterson
Nearly two dozen legislators grilled Chicago Public Schools officials for more than two hours Wednesday over the district’s mishandling of sexual abuse allegations going back at least a decade.
NTA Families Sue CPS, Claim School Transition Plan Violates Civil Rights
| Matt Masterson
Why parents are hoping to reverse a decision that would turn their Level 1-plus elementary school on the city’s Near South Side into high school.
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