Stories by Matt Masterson

If the partial government shutdown lasts through next week, federal courts in Chicago and across the country may have to delay pay and limit operations.

Keith Watley, 29, is accused of intentionally running over and killing a mechanic he knew on the South Side.

Field goal do-overs, an unusual subway ride, sketch comedy and bucking bulls usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Chicago aldermen voice their support of – or opposition to – a proposal to ban them from working outside of City Council, a proposal put forth in the wake of federal charges against Ald. Ed Burke.

Defensive words from City Council members who have proposed a flurry of reforms in the wake of the Ald. Ed Burke scandal. Political reporters Carol Marin and Paris Schutz dive into that story and more in this week’s roundtable.

Watch the Jan. 9, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

2018 was a deadly year for journalists, with more than 50 killed worldwide. We hear from the press freedom group Reporters Without Borders about threats to journalists at home and abroad.  

The 40th Ward alderman tells us how he intends to manage the Finance Committee and what City Council may look like in the wake of federal charges against Ald. Ed Burke.

Mounting pension debt, a budget deficit and a backlog of unpaid bills – all effects of Illinois’ budget impasse – will continue to plague not just the state but its incoming governor and newly sworn-in class of legislators.

A new book by Chicago-based author Greg Borzo explores the city’s bygone restaurants, from the high-end to the bizarre.

The Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio replaces Vance Joseph, who was fired on New Year's Eve as head coach of the Denver Broncos.

A state program designed to protect the Lake Michigan shoreline is adding a new category this year aimed at helping Chicago-area communities preserve their beaches.

How a recently discovered film shot in Chicago more than 120 years ago still makes a powerful statement – without saying a word.

Watch the Jan. 8, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

After a year of security breaches, data privacy concerns and political intrusions, some Facebook users are pulling the plug. Should you?

A lawsuit against the Chicago Housing Authority is coming to an end. The lead counsel on that case tells us what it’s about – and its impact.

The federal shutdown is causing a lot of worries among government employees, including TSA agents. How workers in Chicago are reacting.

Outgoing Gov. Bruce Rauner reflects on the past four years, and gives recommendations to his successor.

Husband-and-wife designers Dorothy and Otis Shepard brought a fresh, modern look to billboards, subway cards, advertising – and even the Chicago Cubs.

The Cook County state’s attorney said she was “sickened” by recent allegations of sexual and physical abuse made against R&B star R. Kelly in a new televised docuseries.

A child in northeastern Illinois is one of 13 across the U.S. who have died from the flu so far this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sears received another lifeline Tuesday when the company's chairman and largest shareholder promised to line up the necessary financing to keep the struggling department store chain afloat.

If you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em. That’s the apparent strategy behind a new state grant program that will provide funding to companies that harvest and sell Asian carp.

A donation from the Polsky family will fund the creation of a new multidisciplinary institute dedicated to urologic cancers, including prostate, bladder and kidney cancers.

Books about Chicago and the city’s impact around the world are featured in the new book, “Chicago by the Book.” Why some made the cut – and others didn’t.

Carjacking totals dropped across Chicago in 2018 following a yearslong spike, and city leaders hope the deployment of a technological tool will help draw those totals down further.