Stories by Matt Masterson
Cook County Sues Facebook, Cambridge Analytica for Consumer Fraud
| Matt Masterson
Facebook’s “disregard and misuse” of users’ personal data allowed a foreign firm to profile 50 million voters without their consent prior to the 2016 election, and according to a new lawsuit, it may have violated Illinois state law.
Chicago Seeks to Better Address LGBT Health Needs
| Kristen Thometz
A first-of-its-kind study from the Chicago Department of Public Health provides a population estimate of the city’s LGBT community and a snapshot of the health issues and inequities it faces.
Police Name Successor to Slain CPD Commander Paul Bauer
| Matt Masterson
The 18th Police District has a new commander more than a month after Paul Bauer was gunned down outside the Thompson Center.
CSO Debuts Fascinating New Piece, Celebrates A Heavenly Massing of Voices
| Hedy Weiss
The human voice is a remarkable instrument. And when the 115 heavenly souls of the Chicago Symphony Chorus gather on stage with the musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, something extraordinary happens.
Trader Joe’s to Phase Out Gestation Crates for Some Pork Products
| Alex Ruppenthal
The grocery store chain released more details this week about its plans to phase out a practice that animal welfare advocates consider inhumane.
The Week in Review: General Election Already Underway
| Nick Blumberg
Pritzker wins big. Rauner squeaks by in what could be the costliest race for governor ever. Garry McCarthy announces and Rahm Emanuel pounces. And the Ramblers ramble on.
Web Extra, The Week in Review: Arthur Jones’ Primary Win
| Nick Blumberg
Eddie Arruza and guests discuss the 3rd Congressional District candidate described by his party as a neo-Nazi.
Chicago Teen to Victims of Gun Violence: ‘I Cry With You, I Scream With You’
Local teens heading to D.C. on Saturday for March For Our Lives
| Matt Masterson
Students calling for an end to gun violence will lead hundreds of marches across the country this weekend. Meet a Chicago teen invited to speak at the national March For Our Lives event in Washington, D.C.
Loyola Rambles On to Elite 8
| Paris Schutz
As has become the norm in the Loyola Rambler’s heart-pounding NCAA Tournament run, it came down to the final seconds on Thursday against the Nevada Wolf Pack.
Viewer Feedback: ‘No! No! No! We need to protect the Great Lakes’
| WTTW News
Your thoughts about the potential ramifications of a Chinese company drawing 7 million gallons of water a day out of Lake Michigan.
Garry McCarthy Announces Run for Chicago Mayor
| Kristen Thometz
Garry McCarthy is officially in. “It’s time for new leadership in City Hall that’ll fix our problems and pull us together,” the former Chicago Police superintendent said in a video announcing his bid for Chicago mayor.
Top Trump Administration Brass on Fighting Opioid Addiction
| WTTW News
Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan discusses his agency’s role in combating the opioid crisis.
Trump’s Tariffs on China Stoke Trade War Fears
| Evan Garcia
China faces steep tariffs for allegedly stealing U.S. intellectual property. Is a trade war in the offing?
During Chicago’s Pothole Season, City Crews Work Around the Clock
| Alexandra Silets
One thing we can all count on in Chicago is the late winter and early spring pothole season. We catch up with some city crews trying to make life a little less bumpy.
Cook County Jail Warden On Her Way Out
| Brandis Friedman
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart drew national attention when he appointed a psychologist to be the jail’s executive director. After almost three years on the job, Nneka Jones Tapia is moving on.
Driehaus Prize: Architects Focus on Public Housing With Classical Style
| Paul Caine
Geoffrey Baer travels to France to meet this year’s winners of the Driehaus Prize for architecture.
Former Staffer Sues Madigan, Democratic Party for Sexual Harassment
| Paris Schutz
Alaina Hampton, a former political and legislative staffer in House Speaker Michael Madigan’s political organization, is taking her ex-boss to federal court.
At CPS, Playing Chess About Strategy Both On and Off the Board
| Erica Gunderson
The Chicago Public Schools K-8 chess championship is this weekend. We visit two schools whose students hope to capture the prize.
Chicago-Area Population Drops for 3rd Straight Year
| Kristen Thometz
Of the top 10 most populous cities in the country, the Chicago metro area was the only one to see a decline. Chicago demographer Rob Paral says a “complex stew” of factors is behind the drop.
Humboldt Penguin Chick Born at Brookfield Zoo
| Alex Ruppenthal
The yet-to-be-named chick is healthy and being hand-reared by animal care staff, the zoo said this week.
Mudslinging Begins as Democrats Look to Take Back Governor’s Mansion
| Amanda Vinicky
With the race for governor winnowed down, Democrat J.B. Pritzker and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner are wasting no time in going after one another.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: March 22-25
| Kristen Thometz
Spring blooms, tattoo ink, a march against gun violence and a chef-driven food fest usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Casten, Bennett Take on Incumbent Reps. Roskam, Schneider in November
| Evan Garcia
Meet the primary winners set to take on suburban incumbent U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam and Brad Schneider in the November general election.
2018 Primary Results: Analyzing Political Power Shifts
| Nick Blumberg
A big-picture look at what the primary results say about where November’s election might be headed.
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