Stories by Matt Masterson
Family of Teen Shot by Suburban Officer Files Suit Against Bank Robber
| Matt Masterson
The family of Rylan Wilder, who was wounded last week during a confrontation between a bank robbery suspect and police, is suing that suspect and asking local police departments for more information about their son’s shooting.
Family of Mercy Hospital Shooting Victim Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit
| Matt Masterson
The father of slain pharmacist Dayna Less is suing Mercy Hospital and its security firm, claiming their “systemic failures” allowed a domestic violence incident “escalate into a triple homicide.”
Federal Prosecutors to Participate in ‘Project Guardian’ to Target Chicago Gun Crime
| Matt Masterson
Federal prosecutors in Chicago say their office is entering into a new Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing gun violence through coordinated prosecutions and new or improved background check enforcements.
Smollett Says He Was Maliciously Prosecuted in Counterclaim Against City
| Matt Masterson
Former “Empire” star Jussie Smollett has filed a federal counterclaim against the city of Chicago claiming he owes the city no more money and was maliciously prosecuted for the alleged hoax attack police say he orchestrated on himself.
Expungement Request Denied for Ex-CPD Detective Dante Servin in Rekia Boyd Case
| Matt Masterson
The family of Rekia Boyd erupted into applause Tuesday after a judge denied a request from the man who was charged and acquitted in her killing – a former Chicago police detective – to expunge any record of his criminal case from the public’s view.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx Will Seek Re-Election in 2020
| Matt Masterson
In her first campaign ad for 2020, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx acknowledges missteps in the Jussie Smollett case and calls out critics like President Donald Trump and the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police.
Board of Education to Vote on New Budget, Strike Make-Up Days
| Matt Masterson
Days after the Chicago Teachers Union voted to approve a new five-year contract with the city, the Chicago Board of Education is expected to follow suit at its regular monthly meeting this week.
CTU Members Vote to Ratify 5-Year Contract
| Matt Masterson
Two weeks after ending their historic work stoppage, more than 25,000 rank-and-file Chicago Teachers Union members ratified their new contract with the city.
Ex-Chicago Detective Acquitted in Rekia Boyd Killing Wants Court Records Expunged
Judge will rule on Dante Servin’s petition at a hearing next week
| Matt Masterson
Former Chicago police Detective Dante Servin was found not guilty of Rekia Boyd’s killing in 2016. Now he wants any record of his criminal trial removed from the public eye – a move family members call a “terrible slap in the face.”
CTU’s Strike Remains Suspended. To End it, 25,000 Teachers Must Ratify New Contract
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Teachers Union’s 11-day strike is suspended, but it’s not officially over until rank-and-file members vote to ratify a five-year tentative contract agreement reached with the city. That vote begins Thursday.
Heating Issues Hit Kenwood Academy High School for 2nd Straight Day
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools said heating issues at the school had been fixed Tuesday. But on Wednesday the district said several classrooms were suffering from insufficient heat circulation as temperatures across the city remained below freezing.
Kenwood Academy Suffers Heat Loss During Record Cold Spell in Chicago
| Matt Masterson
A broken heater inside a South Side high school left students in classrooms without normal heat circulation on a day with record cold temperatures.
1 Dead, 3 Others Stabbed After Argument Over Minor Car Crash
| Matt Masterson
Chicago police say a 28-year-old man is dead after he was stabbed in the chest during a confrontation on the 5300 block of West Irving Park Road just after 2 a.m. Monday morning.
CPS Enrollment Declines By 6,000 Students
| Matt Masterson
Fewer students are enrolled at Chicago Public Schools this year compared to last year, according to figures released by the district Friday. But CPS says the drop-off is “significantly” smaller than declines in recent school years.
Ex-LAPD Top Cop Charlie Beck Named Interim Chicago Police Superintendent
| Matt Masterson
Charlie Beck, who led the Los Angeles Police Department for nearly a decade, has been tabbed to serve as the interim Chicago police superintendent following Eddie Johnson’s retirement at the end of the year.
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.
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