Stories by Matt Masterson

Mayor Johnson Hits Back at Trump’s ‘Illegal’ Plans to Deploy National Guard to Chicago

Mayor Brandon Johnson said he takes Trump’s statement seriously, but claimed the city has not received any word from federal authorities about the deployment of any additional law enforcement into Chicago.

Feds Launch New Unit to Prosecute Health Care Fraud Cases in Illinois

U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros announced Friday the creation of a new section within the Northern District of Illinois’s Criminal Division that will be dedicated to the prosecution of health care fraud.

Applications Sought for Chicago’s Next Police Misconduct Agency Chief

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability announced it has begun accepting applications for the role of chief administrator in the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

Ex-Northwestern Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald Settles Lawsuit Following His Firing Amid Hazing Allegations

Former Northwestern University football coach Pat Fitzgerald and his attorneys announced the “satisfactory settlement” Thursday, though terms of the agreement were not immediately known.

NASCAR Returning to Joliet’s Chicagoland Speedway in 2026 Amid Pause in Chicago Street Race

For the first time in seven years, NASCAR will be returning to the 1.5-mile speedway in Joliet with an O’Reilly Auto Parts Series on July 4, 2026 and a Cup Series race scheduled for July 5.

As Trump Vows to Eliminate Mail-In Voting, Illinois Elections Officials Say Fraud is ‘Extremely Rare’

In Illinois, there are numerous security checks in place to ensure the accuracy and security of mail-in voting, according to Matt Dietrich, a spokesperson for the state’s Board of Elections.

CPS Students Return for 1st Day of Classes as District Continues Working to Close Budget Gap

Chicago Public Schools students returned to their classrooms Monday for the start of the new academic year, as district officials continue working to finalize a budget proposal to close a $734 million funding gap.

Chicago Officer Who Fatally Shot Partner Krystal Rivera Stripped of Police Powers After New Allegations

A Chicago Police Department spokesperson confirmed that Officer Carlos Baker has been relieved of his police powers, effective Friday.

More Than Half of CPS Board Calling for ‘Critical’ Changes to District’s Budget Plan

The letter came after several board members voiced concerns about the district’s proposed spending plan, one CPS officials have pledged would keep any cuts out of the classroom.

Illinois Judge Rejects Request to Arrest and Return Texas Democrats as Lawmakers Plot Comeback

Judge Scott Larson said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton “failed to present a legal basis” for the Illinois court to consider civil arrest warrants filed in a different state.

CPS Banking on TIF Funding, Pension Contingency to Keep Cuts Out of Classrooms in Latest Budget Plan

“The choices we have are difficult ones,” CPS chief budget officer Mike Sitkowski told the Board of Education, “and it’s very difficult for us to be able to make cuts of this magnitude and keep the impact off of our schools.”

Pritzker Signs ‘Sonya Massey’s Bill’ Into Law, Requiring Stricter Background Checks for Police Hiring

Former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson faces first-degree murder and other charges in Sonya Massey’s killing.

‘We’ve Been Tested’: Texas Dems Who’ve Fled to Illinois Enter Second Week of Quorum Break

The Texas representatives, who are entering their second week of their quorum break, stood with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin in Chicago Monday, days after a pair of bomb threats were called in to their St. Charles hotel.

Homeland Security Head Noem Criticizes Pritzker, Johnson in Illinois Visit While Local Officials Brand Her a ‘Liar’

Kristi Noem, whose office oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), visited suburban Lombard on Friday to criticize Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, whom he claimed have “worked so hard to protect these dangerous criminals” through their refusal to cooperate with ICE officials.

Chicago Man Accused of Killing 2 Israeli Embassy Staffers in DC Now Facing Hate Crime Charges

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Elias Rodriguez, 31, with several new counts including murder of a foreign official, hate crimes, first-degree murder and assault with intent to kill more than two months after he allegedly killed Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum.

Alleged Bomb Threat Forces Evacuation at Suburban Hotel Housing Texas in Illinois Democrats

Authorities are investigating after a threat was allegedly made Wednesday against Texas House Democrats who fled to Illinois in an effort to block a Republican redistricting effort in their home state.

Ex-City Club President, ComEd Consultant Jay Doherty Gets 1 Year in Prison on Madigan Conspiracy Conviction

Jay Doherty, the longtime City Club president and consultant for utility giant ComEd, will be headed to prison for his role in a yearslong conspiracy to bribe ex-Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan.

‘It Is an Investment in Our Future’: CPS Announces 16 New Sustainable Community Schools

Launched in 2018, CPS based its SCS model around engaging academic curriculum, high-quality teaching, wrap-around supports, restorative justice discipline, parent engagement and inclusive school leadership.

Authorities Safely Locate Chicago Child Who’d Been Missing 7 Years

Chicago police, along with the U.S. Marshal’s Service and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, announced the child was found with their mother after they had gone missing in 2018.

Illinois Joins Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s Efforts to Restrict Gender-Affirming Care

Gender-affirming care includes a range of medical and mental health services to support a person’s gender identity. It includes counseling and treatment with medications that block puberty, and hormone therapy to produce physical changes, as well as surgery, which is rare for minors.

Chicago Cubs to Host All-Star Game for First Time in More Than 30 Years

Baseball’s biggest names will be heading to the Friendly Confines in July 2027 as Wrigley Field is set to host the MLB All-Star game for the first time in more than 30 years.

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis Not Running for 16th Term in Congress

Davis, 83, will leave Congress as one of the most senior members of the House of Representatives and the ranking member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.

Cousins Who Spent 4 Decades in Prison on Wrongful Conviction Granted Certificates of Innocence

“It feels (like) a sense of relief, but it’s been too long coming. It should have happened a long time ago,” Soto said at the courthouse. “It’s kind of hard going into the very courtrooms where Dave and I received an injustice to try and get some semblance of justice.”

Family of Worker Fatally Shot at Navy Pier Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit

“When a life is taken so violently and so publicly, our legal system must respond accordingly,” the family’s attorney Patrick A. Salvi II said in a statement. “While nothing will fill the void (in) the hearts of Peter’s loved ones, the filing of this lawsuit is a step toward justice for the family and will expose any failures that allowed this tragedy to occur.”

Northwestern University Eliminating 425 Staff Positions Amid Continued Federal Funding Freeze

The university said it is cutting approximately 5% of its staff budget through the elimination of 425 positions across schools and units, though officials said about half of those are currently vacant.

Pritzker Signs New Bills Aimed at Improving Gun Safety

Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday signed the two bills into law, which he said will continue Illinois’ efforts to be among the most aggressive states in combating gun violence.
 

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