Stories by Matt Masterson
Police: Carjacking Suspect Faces Murder Charge After Fatal Crash
| Matt Masterson
A 29-year-old Streamwood man faces felony murder charges after he allegedly stole and crashed a taxi, killing a 69-year-old Lincoln Park woman.
Property Tax System ‘More Regressive’ in Cook County, Report Finds
| Amanda Vinicky
A bombshell report on Cook County’s property tax system exposes flaws in how the assessor determines how much residents owe in property taxes.
In ‘Bunny Bunny,’ Tapping Into Gilda Radner’s Sad Clown
| Hedy Weiss
You will catch only a brief glimpse of the big explosion of hair, but in “Bunny Bunny” at Mercury Theater Chicago you will fully feel the manic energy and rapid-fire comic responses of Gilda Radner.
Viewer Feedback: ‘We’re Sadly Creating a Bunch of Addicts to Devices’
| WTTW News
Your thoughts on the effects of screen time on young children, and react to our story about a Chicago man who stumbled across a rare and valuable work of art at a thrift store.
Photos: Animals at Brookfield Zoo Get Valentine’s Treats
| Alex Ruppenthal
Date or no date, single or taken, animals at Brookfield Zoo experienced Valentine’s Day with the best kind of gift: food.
Critics of O’Hare Express Train Say Emanuel on Wrong Track
| Andrea Guthmann
Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants everyone to get on board with an ambitious plan for an express train between downtown and O’Hare, but would taxpayers be the ones taken for a ride?
Stephen Warde Anderson: One-of-a-Kind Painter Has One-Man Show
| Marc Vitali
Weird and wonderful artwork created far outside the mainstream. We meet up with a most unusual painter from Rockford.
Florida School Shooting Spotlights Need for Mental Health Services
| Kristen Thometz
The 19-year-old suspected of opening fire Wednesday inside a Florida high school had a troubled past. A pair of experts discuss mental health issues and how the threat of violence impacts young people.
West Town Textile Studio Finds Common Threads with Community
| Erica Gunderson
On Chicago’s West Side, an artist-run production weaving mill and a social service agency work together to weave adults with intellectual disabilities into the fabric of their community.
Chinese New Year is Here: What’s in Store for the Year of the Dog?
| Evan Garcia
Friday marks the start of the Chinese New Year and ushers in the Year of the Dog. We discuss the history and traditions of the vibrant holiday and festival.
Suspect in Fatal Shooting of Police Commander Bauer Held Without Bond
| Matt Masterson
A Cook County judge has denied bond for Shomari Legghette, a four-time felon charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Chicago Police Department Commander Paul Bauer this week.
Rauner Re-election Budget Plan Puts Burden on Local Governments
| Amanda Vinicky
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Wednesday laid out a $37.6 billion spending plan that heavily relies on the income tax increase he constantly bemoans and calls for balancing the budget largely by shifting costs to local governments.
Adler’s Popular ‘What is a Planet?’ Exhibit Returns This Week
| Alex Ruppenthal
Starting Friday, planetarium visitors will have another chance to explore the ever-evolving way humans view the universe.
Von Steuben Robotics Team Leads the Way for Girls in Science
| Paul Caine
Meet the team from Von Steuben High School that’s on its way to the prestigious U.S. Open Robotics Championship.
What Does Illinois’ Fiscal Watchdog Think of Rauner’s Budget Plan?
| Evan Garcia
Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, shares his thoughts on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s $37.6 billion spending plan.
Chicago’s 2018-19 Dance Season Already Spinning Into View
| Hedy Weiss
Chicago is dancing up a storm this season, and plans for an exceptionally strong 2018-2019 season are already being announced. A preview of what’s to come.
Police: Man, 44, Charged in CPD Commander’s Shooting Death
| Matt Masterson
Shomari Legghette, 44, was charged a day after the fatal shooting of Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer. He was allegedly wearing body armor and carrying a firearm containing an extended-round magazine.
White House Photographer on Her Years ‘Chasing Light’
| Nick Blumberg
Amanda Lucidon talks about finding candid moments in formal settings. In her new book, she gathers some of her favorite images of then-first lady Michelle Obama.
Ask Geoffrey: How Does Edens Expressway Stay Billboard-Free?
| Erica Gunderson
Most Chicago-area expressways are littered with billboards. How did one expressway escape the same fate? Geoffrey Baer drives by with the answer to that and other viewer questions.
Slain CPD Officer Was ‘Part of the Fabric’ of Near North Community
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Police Department on Wednesday continued mourning the loss of 53-year-old Commander Paul Bauer a day after he was shot and killed in the line of duty.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Feb. 15-18
| Kristen Thometz
Book lovers, a Martian adventure, ciders and funny femmes usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Orangutan Undergoes Emergency Appendectomy at Brookfield Zoo
| Alex Ruppenthal
Ben, a 40-year-old orangutan at Brookfield Zoo, underwent an emergency appendectomy last month after veterinary staff discovered a ruptured appendix.
Rare, Valuable Work of Art Purchased at Chicago Thrift Store
| Jay Shefsky
A Chicago man stumbles on a rare and valuable piece of art that is a close cousin to the most reproduced painting in history.
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