Stories by Matt Masterson
Ride-Hailing Drivers Accused in String of Near North Robberies
| Matt Masterson
Two women acting as ride-hailing service drivers have reportedly robbed multiple riders at gunpoint across the Near North Side in recent months, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Web Extra, The Week in Review: Trump’s Mounting Legal Woes
| Evan Garcia
Eddie Arruza and guests discuss President Donald Trump’s mounting legal woes and how they could impact Chicago politics.
The Week in Review: Poll Shows Uphill Battle for Rauner
| Evan Garcia
A new poll shows a sizable lead in the race for governor. Juries convict two in the murder of Hadiya Pendleton. A renewed push for a Chicago casino. And a controversial acquisition for the Cubs.
UIC Students Set Sail in the Arctic to Study Climate Change
| Michelle De La Vega
Six students from the University of Illinois at Chicago are starting the fall semester a little early – and a couple thousand miles from campus.
Grazing Goats, Sheep and 1 Donkey Help Clear Vegetation at O’Hare
| Alex Ruppenthal
For the fifth straight year, dozens of animals have returned to O’Hare International Airport, where they are helping to clear invasive vegetation that can harbor wildlife and pose risks to aircrafts during takeoff.
Chicago Police Warn of Cab, Ride-Hailing Robberies in Old Town
| Matt Masterson
Authorities are looking for two to three men they believe are responsible for five robberies in the area this month.
Viewer Feedback: ‘Isn’t The State One Big Casino?’
| WTTW News
Readers react to the prospect of a casino in Chicago.
City Utilizing Provision in Trump Tax Bill
| Paris Schutz
The recent GOP federal tax cut law isn’t very popular among Democratic politicians. But city officials are taking advantage of one provision that could jump-start development in blighted areas.
On 50th Anniversary, New Photos Shed Light on Tumult of Chicago DNC
| Eddie Arruza
Remembering the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, as captured by two local photographers.
Guilty Verdict for Gunman in Hadiya Pendleton Murder
| Matt Masterson
A Cook County jury took about three hours to convict the man accused of fatally shooting 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton at a Kenwood park on the South Side in 2013.
Nonprofit Let South Side Buildings Languish After Receiving State Aid, Investigation Finds
| Evan Garcia
With the stated mission of providing low-income housing, an Ohio-based nonprofit received millions in loans and tax breaks. But a Chicago Tribune investigation has uncovered a pattern of mismanagement and broken promises.
Experts Revise Recommendations on Cervical Cancer Screenings
| Kristen Thometz
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is revising its recommendations on cervical cancer screenings for some women. A local doctor talks about what that means for patients.
New Laws Boost Treatment of Opioid Abuse, Mental Health Access
| Kristen Thometz
Gov. Bruce Rauner says a suite of new laws will “dramatically improve” mental health and addiction treatment in Illinois as part of a larger effort to address the state’s opioid crisis.
Brookfield Zoo Conference Examines the Pangolin, World’s Most Trafficked Mammal
| Alex Ruppenthal
More than a million pangolins have been poached from the wild in the past 10-15 years, according to Brookfield Zoo. What conservationists are doing to change that.
Why Chicago’s Hedging on a City-Owned Casino
| Amanda Vinicky
Chicago’ and Illinois’ budgets could both use extra padding – money for schools, and to pay pension debts. One option? More gambling. But just what are the chances?
Urban Farming Program Marks 10,000 Customers Served
| Alex Ruppenthal
An urban farming program that started barely two years ago with 7 acres of land near a former steel mill celebrated a milestone Wednesday.
Michael Cohen Plea, Paul Manafort Verdict: Examining the Fallout
| Alexandra Silets
Assessing the impact of a guilty verdict and plea deal on the presidency of Donald Trump: a discussion with former federal prosecutor Patrick Cotter.
Cool May and Wet June Create Gardening Challenges
| Paul Caine
“Each garden, we’re finding, is its own microcosm this year,” said organic gardener Jeanne Nolan. “Some are bountiful and others are delayed. That weather stressed out the plants some, and we’re seeing the results of it.”
Mother’s Book Reminds Readers: Kids with Special Needs Are Still Kids
| Kristen Thometz
In honor of her late son, Elizabeth Gerlach wrote a children’s book featuring a protagonist who uses a wheelchair. “I would like to be able to reduce the stigma of kids with disabilities,” she said.
CPS Limiting Phone, Social Media Contact Between Students and Teachers
| Matt Masterson
District leaders are updating policies on how students and staff can digitally communicate as it works to root out sexual misconduct inside its schools.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Aug. 23-26
| Kristen Thometz
Witty women, global fare, sweet treats and art fairs usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Stony Island Arts Bank Remembers Historic Johnson Publishing Company
| Marc Vitali
An exhibition conveys the role of the publishers of Ebony and Jet magazines in spreading the word on black culture from their onetime offices at 820 S. Michigan Ave.
Bombshell Report Rocks Catholic Church
| Alexandra Silets
Local reaction to a stunning two-year grand jury investigation that details alleged sexual abuse of more than 1,000 individuals by 300 “predator priests” – and a cover-up by church officials.
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