Stories by Matt Masterson

Retired appellate judge Sheila O’Brien is calling for a special prosecutor to investigate what she has called the “mishandling” of the Jussie Smollett case. On Thursday, she accused the presiding judge of a possible conflict of interest.

Watch the May 1, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Unseasonably cold weather in Chicago has delayed the start of spring – at least in terms of planting, says organic gardener Jeanne Nolan. Here are some tips for your spring crops.

What’s it like to date around while staying married? A Chicago writer shares her experiences diving into the world of consensual non-monogamy.

Some state lawmakers are scrambling to pass a bill legalizing recreational marijuana this month. Others are urging for a slowdown. We debate the pros and cons of legalization.

Hundreds of full- and part-time employees walked off the job Wednesday. They’ve been working without a contract for nearly three years and are demanding a livable wage.

For Chicago pet owners, finding a lost dog or cat could now be just a few clicks away, thanks to an app built using facial recognition technology.

Colorful kites, vinyl records, adoptable animals and antique maps usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

McDonald’s turned to a sure thing in the first quarter, bacon, and it paid off. Global sales rose 5.4% at stores open at least a year, a key metric of a retailer’s health. 

Fox Entertainment said Tuesday that Jussie Smollett will not return to the series “Empire” next season in the wake of allegations by Chicago officials the actor lied about a racially motivated attack.

Watch the April 30, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

The iconic Heartland Cafe, which for more than 40 years sat at the corner of Glenwood and Lunt avenues in Rogers Park, is being torn down. We look back at its history as a community hub.

If you’re expecting to receive Social Security benefits, brace yourself. Costs for Social Security are projected to exceed the program’s income next year, which means beneficiaries may not get all that’s been promised to them. 

From brain mapping to climate modeling and beyond: the potential impact of a new supercomputer being developed in the Chicago area. 

It’s been more than a month since the FAA grounded Boeing’s troubled 737 Max aircraft. This week, the head of the Chicago-based company addressed shareholders and reporters.

A conversation with Emily Bazelon, an investigative journalist at the New York Times Magazine whose new book takes a hard look at how prosecutors contribute to overcharging and mass incarceration.

Now receiving its Chicago premiere by Steppenwolf Theatre, British playwright Lucy Kirkwood’s quirky tragicomedy tackles aging, sexual competition, parenting and the catastrophic result of certain scientific and engineering “advances.”

It’s home to more than animals: More than 330 species of trees, shrubs and plants live on zoo grounds, including the historic canopy of oak trees whose roots predate the city’s founding.

“I hope that (Kim Foxx) suddenly realizes that this is what her job is and that she needs to do it," FOP President Kevin Graham said Tuesday. “If she can’t, she needs to step down and let somebody else do it.”

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is fighting a push to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate her office’s handling of the case against actor Jussie Smollett.

Some people told they have Alzheimer’s may instead have a newly identified mimic of the disease — and scientists say even though neither is yet curable, it’s critical to get better at telling different kinds of dementia apart.

A new statewide poll released by the Illinois Education Association shows that residents have a pessimistic view of the state and public schools – but a favorable view of teachers.

A day after meeting with Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson gave a first look at his plans to combat summer violence increases.

JoAnn Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr.’s younger son was taken into Illinois Department of Children and Family Services custody following the disappearance of Andrew “AJ” Freund. 

Chicago Public Schools once again scored the top five public high schools in the state of Illinois, according to the annual list. All five of those schools were also ranked among the top 100 nationally.

Finding billions of dollars to repair roads, bridges and other infrastructure needs is high on legislators’ list of priorities with five weeks left in their spring session, but so too are other hefty “asks” of first-time Gov. J.B. Pritzker.