A Chicago police officer has been arrested and charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts after he allegedly had inappropriate contact with three women on separate occasions.
Stories by Matt Masterson
Controversial Suburban Express Bus Line Abruptly Shuts Down
A controversial Champaign-based bus company accused of discriminating against Asian customers has closed its doors for good. “I stopped enjoying this business around 2001,” company owner Dennis Toeppen wrote in a court filing this week.
Ex-Chicago Police Sergeant Charged With Felonies After Bar Attack
Former Chicago police Sergeant Eric Elkins was implicated last year after he and others allegedly beat a group of men outside a gay bar in a brutal attack that left three victims hospitalized.
R. Kelly Attorney Waiting on Alleged Sex Tape, Avenatti Communications
Prosecutors have turned over hundreds of pages of discovery documents, but R. Kelly’s attorney said he’s still waiting to get a copy of an alleged sex tape of Kelly and a 14-year-old victim.
Louis Farrakhan Invited to Address Facebook Ban at St. Sabina Thursday
The Rev. Michael Pfleger invited the controversial minister to speak at St. Sabina Catholic Church days after Facebook banned Louis Farrakhan and several other “dangerous individuals.”
Former YouTube Star Sentenced to 10 Years for Child Pornography
Austin Jones, 26, amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on YouTube. But prosecutors say the suburban singer preyed on his underage fans, using his fame to entice them into sending him sexually explicit videos.
City Colleges of Chicago Staffers End Strike, Announce New Contract
A day after walking off the job and 10 hours of bargaining, striking employees at City Colleges of Chicago announced they had reached a tentative agreement with the administration.
Recusal Request Derails Hearing on Special Prosecutor in Smollett Case
Retired appellate judge Sheila O’Brien is calling for a special prosecutor to investigate what she has called the “mishandling” of the Jussie Smollett case. On Thursday, she accused the presiding judge of a possible conflict of interest.
City Colleges of Chicago Staffers Begin Strike
Hundreds of full- and part-time employees walked off the job Wednesday. They’ve been working without a contract for nearly three years and are demanding a livable wage.
Chicago Police Union President Talks Kim Foxx, Officer Mental Health
“I hope that (Kim Foxx) suddenly realizes that this is what her job is and that she needs to do it," FOP President Kevin Graham said Tuesday. “If she can’t, she needs to step down and let somebody else do it.”
Chicago Police Offer First Look at 2019 Summer Safety Strategies
A day after meeting with Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson gave a first look at his plans to combat summer violence increases.
5 CPS High Schools Among Top 100 in Nation: U.S. News Rankings
Chicago Public Schools once again scored the top five public high schools in the state of Illinois, according to the annual list. All five of those schools were also ranked among the top 100 nationally.
New Timeline Details Years of Abuse Allegations Before AJ Freund’s Death
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services had multiple contacts with Freund's family over reports of neglect and abuse in the months and years before the 5-year-old was found dead.
Federal Prosecutors Seek Second Delay to File Ed Burke Indictment
Federal prosecutors say this extra time is necessary due to the “complex nature” of the ongoing investigation of the 14th Ward alderman.
Leader of Chicago Robbery Crew Receives 30-Year Prison Sentence
Robert Berrios, 51, was convicted of carrying out nine separate robberies in 2012 that netted a total of more than $115,000 in cash, according to federal prosecutors.
Osundairo Brothers File Suit Against Jussie Smollett’s Legal Team
The brothers say Smollett's legal team knowingly made defamatory, false statements, claiming the pair had carried out a real hate crime against their client.
300 Detainees Could Join Suit Against Fox for Filming of ‘Empire’ at Juvenile Detention Center
“Doing what was done to these kids is just not something you’re supposed to do to kids in a juvenile detention setting,” an attorney for the juveniles said Monday.
Bus Company Faces New Fine After Agreeing to Pay $100K in Discrimination Suit
Days after agreeing to pay a $100,000 fine to help settle claims that it discriminated against customers, the Suburban Express bus line is facing more issues stemming from its consent decree with the state.
Records: Kim Foxx Felt Office May Have Overcharged ‘Washed Up’ Smollett
Weeks after recusing herself from the felony prosecution of “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx sent texts to her second-in-command about the case, saying it appeared the office was “overcharging” the actor.
CPS Teacher Charged With Battery After Incident With Student
Spencer Technology Academy teacher Myra Timms, 33, is facing a misdemeanor battery charge after she allegedly made physical contact with one of her male students last week.
Illinois Officials Spread Awareness of ‘Move Over’ Law After Trooper Deaths
State law enforcement and education officials want to spread the word about Illinois’ “move over” law after 16 state troopers were struck on roads in the first four months of 2019.
Chicago Sues ‘Empire’ Actor Jussie Smollett
City officials have made good on their threat of legal action against Jussie Smollett, filing a civil lawsuit that seeks to recoup the cost of a police investigation into what they believe was a staged attack the actor orchestrated on himself.
Gang Database ‘Strains Police-Community Relations’ City Watchdog Says
More than 90% of individuals in the gang database are people of color, according to Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson, who says that puts a strain on police-community relations. “There’s an extraordinary adverse effect on certain communities.”
4 Police Officers Facing Termination for Role in Laquan McDonald Shooting
An evidentiary hearing that began Wednesday will be used to determine whether four officers can keep their jobs following accusations they lied about what happened the night Laquan McDonald was killed.
Illinois Leads Nation in Exonerations After Police Corruption Scandal
Nearly one out of every three criminal exonerations in the U.S. last year occurred in Illinois, according to a new report. Most of those cases stemmed from disgraced former police Sgt. Ronald Watts and his crew.
