Stories by Matt Masterson
Top Cop Eddie Johnson Announces Retirement: ‘It’s Time’
Police superintendent will serve through the end of 2019
| Matt Masterson
It’s official: Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson will retire at the end of the year. He made his announcement Thursday flanked by family members and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, celebrating what he says has been a reduction in crime on his watch.
Mayor Lightfoot on Eddie Johnson Retirement Reports: ‘He’s Still Here’
| Matt Masterson
Earlier this week, Eddie Johnson said he’s been “toying” with the idea of stepping down after three years as police superintendent. But Lightfoot wouldn’t say Wednesday if she expects that to happen soon.
CPS Announces Dates of 5 Make-Up Days Following Teachers Strike
| Matt Masterson
The school district says it will spread five make-up days across the rest of the year. CPS Chief Education Officer LaTanya McDade joins us to discuss the 11-day strike, recent negotiations and a new teachers contract.
Chicago Man Who Says He Was Tortured Into False Confession Now Suing City, Police Officers
| Matt Masterson
Arnold Day claims he was tortured into falsely confessing to two murders in 1991. After 26 years in prison, he’s now suing the city of Chicago.
Chicago Police Publish New Data on Civilian Complaints
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Police Department on Monday released data on each of the 40,497 total officer misconduct complaints filed between January 2007 and February 2019. What that data shows.
CPD Releases New Crime Data as Trump Again Attacks Eddie Johnson
| Matt Masterson
On the same day the Chicago Police Department unveiled its latest crime data showing downward trends in 2019, President Donald Trump on Twitter blasted the city’s “crime wave” under Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson.
Police Seek Gunman in Halloween Shooting That Critically Injured Child
| Matt Masterson
Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson condemned the Thursday shooting that critically injured a 7-year-old trick-or-treater. “I’m disgusted, but committed to doing everything we can to find the cowards who engaged in a gun battle in the early evening hours while children were trick-or-treating,” he said.
Chicago Teachers Strike Comes to an End, Classes Resume Friday
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools students will return to class Friday following the district’s longest teachers strike in more than 30 years. What finally brought an end to the 11-day standoff.
CTU Reaches Tentative Deal But Won’t Return to Work Thursday
| Matt Masterson
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union won’t head back to school Thursday morning and their strike will last at least one more day after the union’s House of Delegates accepted a tentative agreement with the city, but refused to return to work.
Police Department Accepts New Recommendations to Boost Homicide Clearance Rate
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson says his department has accepted guidance from a Washington D.C.-based research firm offering a “comprehensive assessment of best practices and policies” for solving crimes more quickly.
Another No-Show for R. Kelly, This Time in Federal Court
| Matt Masterson
The R&B singer’s attorney said his client has been hobbled by a toe infection and was worried about aggravating the injury by appearing in court for a hearing Wednesday.
Lightfoot Accuses CTU of Moving Goal Posts After Marathon Bargaining Session
CTU delegates to meet Tuesday, but no tentative agreement reached
| Matt Masterson
On the ninth day of the teachers strike, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says negotiations have been held up by additional demands from the Chicago Teachers Union for more prep time and new legislative proposals.
Eddie Johnson Responds to Trump Barbs: ‘I’m Doing the Right Thing’
| Matt Masterson
In skipping President Donald Trump’s speech Monday to police chiefs in Chicago, the city’s top cop earned a vote of no confidence from the local police union’s board, and a rebuke from the president himself.
Chicago Teachers Strike Extends to 8th Day
| Matt Masterson
While city negotiators reached a tentative agreement Sunday with striking members of SEIU Local 73, a deal with the Chicago Teachers Union has remained elusive.
No Breakthroughs Friday as Chicago Teachers Strike Heads Into Weekend
| Matt Masterson
CTU President Jesse Sharkey said both sides are now focused on the “key issues” as they work to finalize a new contract. “I’m still hopeful,” Sharkey said Friday evening. “It’s stressful, there’s pressure … I remain hopeful that we can get it done.”
CPS on Teachers Strike: ‘This Cannot Go Into Next Week’
| Matt Masterson
The ongoing Chicago teachers strike has already cost students six days of classes. But with upcoming deadlines for students prepping for college, Chicago Public Schools leaders are expressing a sense of urgency in getting students back into school.
Police Union Leaders Issue Vote of No Confidence in Eddie Johnson
| Matt Masterson
Leaders from Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police are criticizing Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, the subject of an ongoing investigation into a driving incident who said this week he plans to skip President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Chicago.
Charges Filed in Northwest Side Carjacking of Vehicle with 2 Kids in Backseat
| Matt Masterson
Two teens and a juvenile are facing multiple felony charges after they allegedly carjacked a woman’s vehicle last week with two children inside it. Police say the children, ages 5 and 2, were found unharmed just blocks away.
Federal Judge Refuses to Toss Out Chicago’s Lawsuit Against Jussie Smollett
| Matt Masterson
The city of Chicago is seeking $130,000 in reimbursement for police overtime costs spent investigating the former “Empire” star’s allegedly false claims. A judge on Tuesday said that lawsuit “will be going forward.”
Lightfoot Asks CTU to End Strike Before Contract Agreement is Finalized
| Matt Masterson
In a letter sent Monday to CTU President Jesse Sharkey, Mayor Lori Lightfoot urges the union to halt its work stoppage while negotiations continue because “our students and families are sacrificing a great deal that cannot be recovered.”
Chicago Board of Education Meeting Postponed As CTU Strike Continues
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Board of Education is postponing its regular monthly meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, until the teachers union and SEIU Local 73 end their ongoing strike. In a statement, the board said this allows district leadership to focus on negotiations.
What Happens If a Teacher Crosses a Picket Line and Goes to Work?
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Teachers Union expects all of its members to be on picket lines during their ongoing strike. Breaking ranks could cost teachers their job.
CPS Reports Possible Threat Found Inside Lane Tech
| Matt Masterson
The school district sent a letter Wednesday informing families the written threat was found inside a student bathroom at the North Side high school.
‘There Will Not Be School Tomorrow’: Lightfoot Believes CTU Will Strike
| Matt Masterson
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson said they believe the Chicago Teachers Union’s House of Delegates will vote to go on strike Wednesday evening.
Chicago Firm Sues Netflix Over ‘When They See Us’ Interrogation Method
| Matt Masterson
Chicago-based Reid & Associates claims the popular series about the Central Park Five defames the company's interrogation technique.
‘Evil on Steroids’: Bail Denied For Man Charged With Murder of 5 Neighbors
| Matt Masterson
The man who allegedly gunned down five neighbors in a rampage inside a Dunning condo building Saturday had planned out his attack, according to letters found inside his home in which he said he would have “no mercy” for the victims.
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