Stories by Matt Masterson

Friday’s motion comes a day after prosecutors dismissed all charges against the remaining defendants, a stunning turn following allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and a subsequent cover-up by members of Chicago’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Charges dropped against the “Broadview Six,” and no special prosecutor for ICE agents. Plus, reaction to President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.

Lucha libre, or “free wrestling,” is woven into the fabric of Mexico’s cultural identity. It’s an acrobatic, flamboyant and thrilling choreographed sport that melds athletics and theater to symbolize the ultimate battle between good and evil.

A Cook County judge has rejected calls for a special prosecutor to probe allegations of criminal misconduct committed by federal immigration agents after Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke refused to launch her own investigations.

Senate Republicans abruptly left Washington without voting to fund immigration enforcement agencies and at an impasse over whether to try to block a new $1.776 billion settlement fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they have been politically prosecuted.

Federal prosecutors have abruptly dismissed all charges against the remaining “Broadview Six” defendants, days before the case was set to go to trial. The move followed a closed-door hearing Thursday over redacted grand jury transcripts.

Friday marks the unofficial start to summer, with the city’s lakefront beaches opening for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Money that lawmakers approved to fund after-school programs this year was not distributed until April, leaving organizations only a few months to spend those funds or return the money to the state.

Join WTTW News for a live conversation about police-community relations on Tuesday, May 26, at 6 p.m. at Thalia Hall in Pilsen. Brandis Friedman will host a panel discussion, and audience members will have a chance to participate.

Taste of Chicago will feature a total of 84 food vendors and 20 food trucks, officials said. Approximately 38% of the vendors are making their first appearance at the Taste of Chicago.

Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.

“Nathaniel Mary Quinn: A Love Letter to My Mother” features 10 artworks by Chicago-born artist Nathaniel Mary Quinn, along with a recreation of his childhood living room from the Robert Taylor Homes public housing project.

Debate over the future of the tipped minimum wage in Chicago. And what’s our local readiness for Ebola?

Global health organizations are racing to stem an Ebola outbreak in central Africa. While the immediate threat is still far away from Chicago, local specialists are working to ensure the city is prepared for all possibilities.

CPS leaders are citing rising pension payments and operating costs, while arguing the district needs greater support from state and federal leaders. Some policy analysts, meanwhile, say the district is responsible for its own deteriorating finances.

“One proposal is not a silver bullet,” Ald. Matt Martin (47th Ward) said. “But we should do what we can, when we can.”

The ordinance's passage means that tipped workers in Chicago would not get another city-ordered wage boost as scheduled on July 1, 2026, or July 1, 2027.

More than 1,100 people participated in the contest, submitting more than 3,200 options. A committee narrowed the choices down to three finalists.

Chicago City Council members unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s Native and Pollinator Garden Registry ordinance, which now allows plants up to 36 inches tall in the parkway.

The lawsuit claims the government’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund" is an illegal slush fund that Trump will use to “finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name.”

Barney Frank, the longtime Democratic congressman and leading liberal who brought new visibility to gay rights and crafted the most significant reforms to the financial system in a generation, has died. He was 86.

A new report found Chicago has made significant progress in its push to increase the number of Equitable Transit-Oriented Developments, but warned investment remains deeply uneven.

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

The Chicago City Council on Wednesday is set to vote on a compromise measure to delay the phaseout of the city’s tipped minimum wage.

An agreement is reached to delay the phaseout of Chicago’s tipped minimum wage. And prioritizing affordability and accessibility near public transit.

Students from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism traveled to Mexico City in early 2026 to report on stories shaping life in and around the city.