Stories by Matt Masterson

Opening statements in the trial of the “ComEd Four” — who are accused of illegally currying favor with former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan — began Wednesday.

Dozens of potential jurors were brought in for questioning in the case against ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist Mike McClain, retired ComEd executive John Hooker and ex-City Club of Chicago president and former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty.

The trial of the “ComEd Four” — ex-CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist Mike McClain, retired ComEd executive John Hooker and ex-City Club of Chicago president and former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty — will begin this week.

Alejandro Arellano, 31, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 26-year-old woman, whom he allegedly stabbed at least four times with a folding pocket knife. He was ordered held without bail during a hearing Monday.

Federal prosecutors announced drug trafficking charges against 11 people who allegedly worked on behalf of the La Familia Stones street gang to distribute the drugs primarily in Albany Park between 2021 and 2022.

Kelly’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean on Thursday filed her notice with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. That move is not a surprise, as Bonjean last month noted her intent to appeal Kelly’s convictions on three child pornography and three child enticement charges.

The CSU University Professionals of Illinois announced its membership is taking a strike authorization vote that will last from Wednesday until Friday.

Special prosecutor Lawrence Oliver on Wednesday announced a 14-count indictment against former Assistant State’s Attorneys Nicholas Trutenko and Andrew Horvat following the botched prosecution of Wilson, who was facing his third trial for the 1982 murders of police Officers William Fahey and Richard O’Brien.

“I’m grateful to Director Jeffreys for his years of service, ensuring the dignity and safety of the incarcerated people of Illinois,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement. 

According to Chicago Police Department data, 23 people were shot in 23 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday, which marked Casimir Pulaski Day in Chicago.

“This case, from start to finish, it begins with violence and it ends with violence,” Cook County Judge Mary Marubio said in setting bail.

Miquel A. Lewis, the acting director of Probation Services at the Cook County Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department, will be joining the board where he’ll replace former Vice President Sendhil Revuluri, who left his position late last year.

Steven Montano is facing charges of first-degree murder, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated discharge of a firearm and two additional misdemeanors, the Chicago Police Department announced Thursday.

Body camera footage of the fatal police shooting of a man in Irving Park last month appears to show he was attempting to get up off the ground and run away when he was killed.

John Lausch, who has served as U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Illinois since 2017, is planning to leave the office in “early 2023,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced during an unrelated press conference Thursday.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot — who nominated Brown for the position in 2020 and will be leaving office herself after failing to make April’s mayoral runoff election — announced Brown will be leaving the department effective March 16.

According to Chicago Police Department data published Wednesday, the city has recorded 79 homicides through the end of February — a total that is down 14% compared to the same point last year but 13% over 2021.

An armored car guard is in good condition after being shot in his bulletproof vest during an attempted robbery in Chatham Tuesday afternoon, according to Chicago police.

According to Chicago Police Department data, 14 people were shot in 12 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

​​Ryan Slaski, 36, will be held on a $10,000 D-bond following his arrest Thursday on the hate crime charge, as well as additional counts of criminal damage to property and possession of a controlled substance.

Federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber to sentence Kelly to 25 years in prison to account for the “indescribable harm” he caused his victims, including his then-underaged goddaughter “Jane.”

Chicago Public Schools is planning to spend $76 million to expand and upgrade the number of security cameras both inside and outside of district-run schools across the city — a move it says will improve the safety of students and staff.

The Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday unanimously approved the calendar for the 2023-24 school year after receiving more than 2,500 comments from the public and education stakeholders last month.

According to Chicago Police Department figures, 16 people were shot in 15 separate incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday.

Norma Chagnama, 29, was held without bail Monday following her arrest on a single count of felony murder in the death of Zury Cruz Sumba, who allegedly suffered brain and spinal injuries while in Chagnama’s care last week.

“Plain and simple, Kelly does not comprehend that what he did was wrong," federal prosecutors said in a sentencing memo this week.