Stories by Matt Masterson

Charles Beach took his oath of office and officially took over as chief judge, months after he defeated eight-time incumbent Tim Evans in a September election held by Cook County judges.

Republicans who control the House have said there’s no doubt that redistricting will pass that chamber. But the fate of any proposal remains uncertain in the Indiana Senate.

The weekend snowstorm set a new record for November.

Northwestern University has agreed to pay $75 million to the U.S. government to end a series of investigations and restore hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding.

The trial, set to start Dec. 8 and last 10 days, represents a high-stakes gamble for the city, whose lawyers typically recommend settling civil cases involving actions by the police that led to criminal charges and are ruled to have violated department policy.

Led by rookie coach Ben Johnson, the surprising Bears (9-3) are alone in first place in the NFC North heading into a Dec. 7 showdown at Green Bay.

As the holiday season hits, we’re looking at the economy — consumer spending, budget battles, and the impact of tariffs and immigration enforcement on local businesses.

Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, who paid the $5,000 fine, said that while he was disappointed by the board's decision, he had no regrets about his decision to divulge the confidential report.

Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling told the Chicago City Council on Nov. 5 that he was confident that CPD would be able to spend no more than $200 million on overtime in 2026.

Work requirements are changing for SNAP benefits. And how immigration enforcement efforts are impacting local street vendors.

Adam Kelly, better known as rapper Adamn Killa, has garnered a lot of attention for his often viral social media presence.

Many of Chicago’s street vendors say they’re being pushed out of business amid concerns over federal immigration enforcement. A number of vendors have stopped selling altogether.

Many Chicagoans impacted by the new rules live in divested neighborhoods already suffering from a lack of access to nutritious food.

High winds and the potential for significant snowfall are likely to affect travelers on the front and back ends of the Thanksgiving weekend.

Most big U.S. retailers are closed on Thanksgiving Day. However, many will open early the following day, Black Friday, the unofficial start of the holiday gift-buying season and the biggest shopping day of the year.

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis wrote the footnote in a 223-page opinion issued last week, noting that the practice of using ChatGPT to write use-of-force reports undermines agents’ credibility and “may explain the inaccuracy of these reports.”

The decision by the state’s highest court keeps the system Chicago officials used for 60 years to hold officers accused of the most egregious misconduct in a deep freeze. Oral arguments will take place in 2026.

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

Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans said his office is “reviewing all actions” after a Chicago man who had been out on pretrial release allegedly doused a woman in gasoline and lit her on fire on board a CTA Blue Line train this month.

A long-awaited new fieldhouse, the transformation of a toxic waste site into a lakefront park and plans to address homelessness are all on the list of priorities for the Chicago Park District.

Cook County residents will get another shot to file property tax appeals. A clean slate and a new beginning — we explain. And the Chicago Park District unveils its budget proposal.

The Cook County Board of Review, the office tasked with settling appeals, announced that everyone who lives in a Cook County township that’s already closed its 2025 property tax appeal window will have another shot to file.

The family of a woman who was set on fire on board a CTA Blue Line train last week has launched an online fundraiser to aid in her medical bills as she recovers from the severe burns she sustained.

The 84-year-old civil rights leader was discharged Monday from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, his son and family spokesperson Yusef Jackson said.

The Wisconsin woman who won release from a mental institution after almost killing her sixth grade classmate in the name of horror villain Slender Man only to flee the state weeks later won’t fight extradition from Illinois.

Detectives are using all kinds of gizmos and gadgets to solve crimes these days, but they're overlooking the lowest of low-tech clues: moss. A Field Museum researcher wants to change that.