Stories by Matt Masterson
Police: Woman Attacked, Sexually Assaulted in Rogers Park
| Matt Masterson
The 31-year-old victim said she was grabbed and assaulted while walking southbound on the 6600 block of North Clark Street on Wednesday evening.
R. Kelly Sex Tapes: From Duffel Bag to National Circulation
| Associated Press
An acquaintance of R. Kelly’s recalled how the singer once lugged a duffel bag everywhere — to recording studios, film sets and gyms. Stuffed inside, she said, was a collection of his homemade VHS sex tapes.
Feds: Charity Funneled Millions in College Bribery Scam
| Associated Press
The mastermind of a wide-ranging college admissions scandal set up a charity that wove a deep web of deception and fraud to mask bribes and payoffs,according to prosecutors and tax documents reviewed by The Associated Press.
A New Champ is Crowned at the CPS Spelling Bee
| Erica Gunderson
Fifty-one students faced off Thursday in the annual citywide spelling competition, and a new champion was named to represent Chicago Public Schools in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. “Chicago Tonight” stopped by for a look.
Illinois Senate Approves Bill to Raise Smoking Age to 21
| Brandis Friedman
A year after lawmakers approved an identical bill that was vetoed by then-Gov. Bruce Rauner, senators vote 39 to 16 to raise the age from 18 to 21 for the legal purchase and use of tobacco products and e-cigarettes.
33rd Ward Candidate Forum: Rodriguez Sanchez vs. Incumbent Ald. Mell
| Evan Garcia
A community activist and the incumbent daughter of a City Council dynasty face off ahead of the April 2 runoff election.
Why Aldermen Who Need Extra Help Call Ed Burke
A WTTW News Exclusive
| Paris Schutz
For years, Ald. Ed Burke ran what amounts to an employee loan-out program from his perch as head of City Council’s powerful Finance Committee. “It’s a way of exercising control,” said one City Hall staffer.
Better Business Bureau Warns of Spring Flooding Scams
| Alex Ruppenthal
With conditions perfect for flooding, the Better Business Bureau’s Chicago division is urging area residents to take precautions when hiring contractors to address flooding-related damages.
Jussie Smollett Pleads Not Guilty to New Felony Charges
| Matt Masterson
The “Empire” actor entered the plea after his case was assigned to a new judge. He faces more than a dozen charges stemming from a staged attack he allegedly planned against himself.
R. Kelly Appears in Chicago Court in Child Support Case
| Associated Press
R. Kelly’s publicist says the R&B singer wants his child support payments lowered, but it doesn’t appear that they were reduced during the most recent hearing in the case.
US Grounding of Boeing Jet Shows Limits of Company’s Clout
| Associated Press
Bowing to international pressure, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9 aircraft in the U.S. were being grounded following the Ethiopian Airlines disaster.
City Council OKs Lincoln Yards, Police Academy
| Paris Schutz
Two major projects – both of them controversial – got the full City Council vote Wednesday in Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s second-to-last meeting.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: March 14-17
| Kristen Thometz
A green river, St. Patrick’s Day parades, nature photos and Indian dances usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Chicago Girls Learn the Ropes of Double Dutch
| Erica Gunderson
Memories of jumping rope as a child lures a Chicago woman back to the sport as an adult – and inspires her to start teaching double Dutch to a new generation through her organization Black Girls Jump.
5th Ward Candidate Forum: Incumbent Ald. Hairston vs. Calloway
| Nicole Cardos
As Chicago voters prepare to head back to the polls, our series of forums continues with 5th Ward candidates Ald. Leslie Hairston and William Calloway.
Northwestern Project Enlists ‘Earthquake Detectives’ to Study Seismograms
| Alex Ruppenthal
With the help of volunteers who classify sounds from recordings of seismic events, scientists could learn more about the conditions under which earthquakes occur.
Irishmen Bring Music, Meditation to Chicago Stages in ‘Choir of Man,’ ‘Two Pints’
| Hedy Weiss
Lift a glass and make a toast to the musical and verbal talents of some Emerald Islanders who have arrived on the shores of Lake Michigan for brief stays.
Pilots Have Reported Issues in US with New Boeing Jet
| Associated Press
Airline pilots on at least two U.S. flights have reported that an automated system seemed to cause their Boeing 737 Max planes to tilt down suddenly.
CPS Watchdog: Pre-K Billing Mismanagement Cost District $2 Million
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools missed out on as much as $2 million in pre-K payments over the past four school years due to a combination of errors, uncollected tuition and employee fraud, according to the district’s internal watchdog.
Mayoral Candidates Preckwinkle, Lightfoot Square off on Aldermanic Prerogative
| Amanda Vinicky
With corruption scandals roiling Chicago politics, both of the candidates for mayor say cleaning up City Hall is near the top of their agendas. But it’s also where they differ, particularly when it comes to aldermanic prerogative.
Striking CSO Musicians Get Superstar Support
| Eddie Arruza
Instead of being in rehearsal Tuesday morning with their superstar conductor Riccardo Muti, most of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 106 musicians joined forces with him on the sidewalk outside the concert hall.
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi Pushes for More Reform
| Evan Garcia
He’s promised big ethics changes and is now pushing to streamline the assessment system and change the rules for some property owners. We sit down with Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi.
Artists, Architects Reimagine the Possibilities of Design in ‘Dimensions of Citizenship’
| Marc Vitali
Seven teams of designers, artists and architects created new visions of space in the world. We visit the forward-thinking show that recently arrived from Venice, Italy.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
2026 Chicago Festival Guide
Who Is Running, or Thinking About Running, to Become Chicago’s Next Mayor
Deal Reached to Sell Chicago Parking Meters to Investment Firm, Alderpeople Say
Rock Star: Meet the Guy Who Excavated O’Hare’s 50-Ton Boulder, and Yes, He Has Thoughts About the Name
Former CPD Supt. Larry Snelling Starts Collecting $190K Annual Police Pension, Records Show
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter