Stories by Matt Masterson
City Colleges Launches Debt Forgiveness Program to Offer Former Students a ‘Fresh Start’
Students held back by debt who dropped out of the City Colleges of Chicago system before completing their studies can now re-enroll and finish their degrees through a relief program that promises to forgive those unpaid dues.
Chicago Police Add Language Access Coordinator to Better Engage Non-English Speakers
To better communicate with residents who have limited English proficiency, the Chicago Police Department has hired Roxana Cortes, a former Chicago Public Schools translation specialist.
Police: 64 Shot, 11 Killed as Weekend Violence Continues in Chicago
Chicago’s top cop David Brown is again calling for community partnerships and additional investments in South and West Side neighborhoods after yet another violent weekend that saw dozens of people shot.
Chicago Man Accused of Killing 1, Wounding 2 Who Tried to Stop Looting
“These victims, I’m just going to classify them as good community members who were trying to do the right thing,” Chicago police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said of the three men who were shot on May 31.
Chicago Man Charged in Fatal Pitchfork Stabbing of Elderly Grandmother
Dujuan Randle, 41, was held without bond Thursday on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, two days after allegedly carrying out the fatal attack in broad daylight in front of neighbors.
Kim Foxx’s Office Creates Online Process to Report Police Misconduct Allegations
The Police Criminal Misconduct Complaint form, launched Tuesday, will allow residents to submit claims of criminal misconduct against law enforcement officers and upload photo and video evidence of any alleged incident.
Northside College Prep LSC Votes to Pull School Resource Officers
A Chicago public high school on the Northwest Side has voted to remove its school resource officers amid a nationwide push to rethink police in schools following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
No Bond for Alleged Getaway Driver in Fourth of July Shooting That Left 7-Year-Old Dead
Reginald Merrill will be held in jail on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery following his first appearance in court on Tuesday, three days after a shooting that left 7-year-old Natalia Wallace dead and another man injured.
Lightfoot: City Will Fine, Shut Down Bars and Restaurants Violating COVID-19 Restrictions
“This is a make-or-break weekend for you,” the mayor said ahead of the holiday weekend.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot had clear words for bar and restaurant owners who refuse to follow the city’s coronavirus guidelines during the Fourth of July weekend: You will be shut down and you will not reopen soon.
Chicago Matching 2016 Homicide Pace Through First Half of 2020
City ended 2016 with most murders in nearly two decades
In the first six months of 2020, there have been 329 murders, matching the total recorded in the first half of 2016 – a year that ended with 762 homicides, according to Chicago Police Department data.
Chicago Police, Feds Seek Help to Identify Persons of Interest in 53 Arson Investigations
“Business owners throughout Chicago saw their hopes and dreams go up in flames with these fires,” Police Superintendent David Brown said of dozens of arsons that took place during recent protests in Chicago.
Kim Foxx Declining to Prosecute ‘Minor Offenses’ Stemming From Recent Protests
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on Tuesday issued a new policy instructing prosecutors to dismiss cases involving a handful of misdemeanor charges tied to recent protests, including disorderly conduct and curfew violations.
City Releases Bodycam Video Showing Ex-Top Cop Eddie Johnson Asleep in Car
The video and documents come more than eight months after the encounter between police officers and the former superintendent, who was found asleep behind the wheel of his SUV after a night of drinking.
Top Cop David Brown Again Decries Lack of Consequences for Chicago Gun Offenders
CPD to deploy 1,200 additional officers each day of Fourth of July weekend
“As a dad ... I struggle to make sense of the reckless gun violence that continues to take the lives of our young people throughout the city,” Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said after 14 people were killed over the weekend.
No Bond For Chicago Man Accused of Gunning Down 2 High Schoolers
“He is a clear and present danger to all of society and all members of the community,” Judge Susana Ortiz said before denying bond Friday for 19-year-old Laroy Battle.
Judge Tosses Second Lawsuit Brought on Behalf of Murdered Scholar Yingying Zhang
A Champaign County judge dismissed the lawsuit against a pair of University of Illinois social workers, each of whom interviewed Brendt Christensen weeks before he kidnapped Zhang and killed her inside his Champaign apartment in June 2017.
100,000 CPS Students to Get Free Internet Through $50M ‘Chicago Connected’ Program
With the possibility of remote learning returning this fall, Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday announced the launch of a $50 million program that will provide free high-speed internet to students over the next four years.
CPS Board Rejects Motion to Terminate Contract With Police Department
Chicago Public Schools will continue to utilize school resource officers in some of its high schools, after a motion to terminate the district’s $33 million contract with the Chicago Police Department was voted down Wednesday.
Lane Tech Taking First Steps To Replace Controversial Mascot
“As a school community, we champion diversity, inclusion, and understanding, and it's essential that we live up to these ideals in all possible ways," Lane Tech Principal Brian Tennison said in a letter to families Tuesday.
Lawsuit: Chicago Detainees Being Denied Access to Phone Calls, Attorneys
The Cook County Public Defender’s Office and several activist groups are suing the city of Chicago, accusing the police department of “disappearing” detainees by preventing them from making phone calls after their arrest.
CPS Board to Vote on Removing Police Officers From Schools
Chicago Public Schools could become the latest major school district to pull police officers from its school buildings amid nationwide calls for police reform in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.
Report: Chicago Police Continues to Lag Behind in Consent Decree Compliance
“This is a critical time in history and for law enforcement,” independent monitor Maggie Hickey said in a statement. “It is my hope that the current momentum around police accountability will inspire the City and the CPD to accelerate its efforts.”
CPS to Lay Off Nearly 300 Teachers as Part of Annual Adjustments
District says it plans to fill 1,900 positions for next school year
CPS on Thursday announced it had laid off 703 employees, including 286 teachers, as part of its annual staffing adjustments, which the district said are caused by declining enrollment, changing student demographics and programmatic changes.
Illinois Supreme Court Rejects FOP Request to Destroy Old Officer Complaint Records
The case stems from a yearslong battle between the city of Chicago and the Fraternal Order of Police, which has argued that its collective bargaining agreement requires complaint files be destroyed after five years.
No Bond for Chicago Man Accused of Firing Shots at Car Full of Police, Wounding 1
Steven McGee, a reputed gang member, allegedly opened fire on a car full of uniformed Chicago police officers, striking one in the leg, as they attempted to arrest him in Bronzeville on Monday for a previous aggravated assault.
Chicago Aldermen Call for Police to Be Pulled From CPS Schools
Public school districts in Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle have recently suspended or outright terminated their contracts with local police departments. Could Chicago Public Schools be next?
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