Stories by Matt Masterson

Steven Greenberg knows his way around a courtroom. And he knows how to prepare for a high-profile murder trial. The longtime defense attorney weighs in on the impending trial of Jason Van Dyke.

Watch the Aug. 29, 2018 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

The state is set to receive more than $100 million in a settlement from Volkswagen after the automaker admitted to cheating on emission tests.

As he takes the helm of the Chicago Teachers Union, Jesse Sharkey discusses school cleanliness and the potential impact of Janus v. AFSCME on union membership.

Cook County Jail detainees will train dogs from the city shelter as part of a new program aimed at preparing for adoption larger dogs that often struggle to find permanent homes.

Jazz, comedy, DJs, ethnic dishes and lowriders usher in the long holiday weekend. Here are a dozen things to do in and around Chicago.

The company started by two Viennese immigrants in 1893 makes more than 100 million sausages each year at its Chicago plant. We take a behind-the-scenes tour to see how the sausage is made. 

One thing you realize from the very start of “Nightmares and Nightcaps: The Stories of John Collier” is that its narrator – a dissipated, devilishly twisted writer – is not going to sugarcoat things. 

Watch the Aug. 28, 2018 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

A law signed Tuesday by Gov. Bruce Rauner opens access to cannabis to a new raft of patients—anyone who would otherwise be prescribed an opioid.

State Rep. La Shawn Ford and the Rev. Anthony Williams offer their answers to Chicago’s epidemic of violence.

The Chicago Jazz Fest is expanding its scope and reach. We discuss what’s new – and what to expect this weekend – with Mark Kelly, commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Their effectiveness can’t be judged by their size: We visit the Barrington nonprofit Mane in Heaven to discover the therapeutic mission of these miniature horses.

Researchers will study an online intervention program and in-person group therapy program designed for teens to see which is better at helping them cope with tough situations and feel more hopeful. 

Learn about the history, science and uses of alcohol during a discussion series in September at The Whistler as part of the Field Museum’s 125th anniversary celebration.

Katrina Burlet, who coached the prison's debate team, says she was banned from all correctional facilities after her program was shut down. She hopes a new lawsuit will restore her team.

Nothing more concisely captures the impressive scope of the work done on Chicago-area stages than this annual list of nominations.

It’s been two months since the U.S. Supreme Court came out with its landmark Janus v. AFSCME decision. Now, on to the next front in the battle over the future of public employee unions.

Watch the Aug. 27, 2018 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Horse-drawn carriages have trotted along Chicago’s downtown streets for decades, but an ordinance making its way through City Council could outlaw the industry for good.

Cardinal Blase Cupich speaks out after finding himself in the middle of a firestorm between a former Vatican official and Pope Francis.

Reflections on the life of the late Arizona senator, Republican leader and two-time presidential candidate who died Saturday from brain cancer.

As Chicago Public Schools teachers return to the classroom this week, many will have a new leader at the top of their union.

Qui Nguyen’s play, now receiving its Chicago premiere at Writers Theatre, is a second generation, rap-era kid’s flashy, sexually charged version of a story about the pain and rage that come with being a refugee, and the difficult process of assimilation. 

A new law allows Illinois farmers to grow cannabis for non-drug uses, making Illinois the latest state to legalize a crop that experts say is growing in demand.

The legal minimum age to purchase tobacco products in Illinois will remain 18 after Gov. Bruce Rauner last week vetoed legislation that would have raised the age to 21.