Stories by Matt Masterson

Suburban Medical Supplier Accused of Swindling Hospitals Out of Millions Worth of PPE

Dennis Haggerty, 44, was charged in federal court Tuesday with a single count of wire fraud after he allegedly took millions of dollars from a pair of university hospitals for N95 face masks which he never produced.

Purchase of Emmett Till House by Nonprofit ‘More Than a Real Estate Transaction’

Blacks in Green buys home, plans to create international heritage pilgrim site

The former Woodlawn home of Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, is now in the hands of the nonprofit Blacks in Green. Founder Naomi Davis shares the group’s vision for the historic site.

Lawsuit Over Gang Database Dismissed as City Officials Agree to Alter Policy

The Chicago Police Department will change the way it tracks Chicagoans suspected of being affiliated with a gang as part of the resolution of a class-action lawsuit that alleged the city’s gang database was riddled with errors.

November 10, 2020 - Full Show

Watch the Nov. 10, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

City Revamps Quarantine Order with Color-Coded Alerts Amid Surge

Chicago will no longer list individual states on its quarantine order amid a sustained surge of COVID-19 cases nationwide, officials announced Tuesday.

After Record Warmth, Cold Front and Strong Winds Headed to Chicago

A strong cold front is moving toward Chicago, bringing fast-moving thunderstorms, plunging temperatures and the threat of damaging wind gusts and tornadoes.

What Does the Future Hold for House Speaker Madigan?

It hasn’t even been a week since the election, but Illinois politicians are looking ahead to another race: the election of the next speaker of the Illinois House.

2020 Jeff Awards a Remembrance of Things Past in Chicago’s Theater World

This year’s announcement of the 2020 Jeff Awards, which honor excellence in Chicago’s Equity contract theaters, took the form of a virtual event. Here is a list of the top award winners.

Amid COVID-19 Surge, CPS Timeline for In-Person Learning Unclear

The second quarter for Chicago Public Schools students is underway, and it’s still not clear when teachers and students could return to their physical classrooms. But in some other districts, schools have reopened.

‘The Latino Vote’: 2020 Election Proves Community Is Not Monolithic

Latinos played an important role in local and national elections this year — what their impact tells us about diversity within the community. 

Chicago’s Top Doctor Says Pfizer Vaccine Potentially ‘Very, Very Important’ in COVID-19 Fight

Chicago and Illinois are in the midst of the largest surge in new COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. We discuss a promising announcement from Pfizer with Dr. Allison Arwady.

Cook County Judge To Be Illinois’ 1st Openly Transgender Elected Official

History was made in Illinois last week when Jill Rose Quinn was elected into office. She joins us in discussion.

CTA Hopes to Start Next Phase of Red Line Extension Planning ‘Very Soon’

Plans to extend the heavily used train line south of its current endpoint at 95th Street have been discussed as far back as the 1950s. But the project has been steadily moving from idea to reality in recent years.

Chicago Suburbs to Face Tighter Rules to Stop COVID-19: Pritzker

Gov. J.B. Pritzker imposed tighter restrictions designed to stop the spread of the virus amid a sustained surge in COVID-19 cases that has shown no sign of slowing down. “The virus is winning the war,” Pritzker said.

Crain’s Headlines: United Bets on Holiday Travelers

Despite a surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, United Airlines is adding hundreds of domestic flights in anticipation of Thanksgiving week travel. Crain’s Chicago Business Editor Ann Dwyer has details.

Fraud Claims Aimed in Part at Keeping Trump Base Loyal

President Donald Trump has promised legal action in the coming days as he refused to concede his loss to President-elect Joe Biden, making an aggressive pitch for donors to help finance any court fight.

Teachers Union Seeking Mediator to Aid in School Reopening Negotiations With CPS

As a potential return to in-person learning draws nearer for some Chicago Public Schools students, the Chicago Teachers Union is seeking help in negotiations with the district over classroom reopenings.

Ethics Board Investigating Ald. Brookins’ Decision to Represent Former Ald. Moreno

Former 1st Ward Ald. Proco Joe Moreno, facing felony charges of obstruction of justice and insurance fraud, has a new lawyer — 21st Ward Ald. Howard Brookins, who is now under investigation himself.

November 9, 2020 - Full Show

Watch the Nov. 9, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Lightfoot Celebrates Biden-Harris Victory, End of ‘National Nightmare’

A day after Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other elected officials joined community members in Chatham to celebrate the victory.

Nursing Home COVID-19 Cases Rise Four-Fold in Surge States

Despite Trump administration efforts to erect a protective shield around nursing homes, coronavirus cases are surging within facilities in states hard hit by the latest onslaught of COVID-19.

Trump, Who Never Admits Defeat, Mulls How To Keep Up Fight

President Donald Trump never admits defeat. But he faces a stark choice now that Democrat Joe Biden has won the White House: Concede graciously for the sake of the nation or don’t — and get evicted anyway.

How the COVID-19 Surge is Impacting Chicago’s Black Communities

The coronavirus has dealt a blow to the Black community, and the numbers are again on the rise. We discuss the surge with Dr. Doriane Miller, director of the Center for Community Health and Vitality at UChicago Medicine.

Biden and the Black Vote: Record Turnout in Key States for Former VP

Local journalists discuss national and local elections results following a dramatic Election Day that stretched into Election Week.

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Nov. 8, 2020 - Full Show

Hashing out an Election Day that turned into Election Week. The impact of rising COVID-19 case numbers in the Black community. An up-and-coming photojournalist has The Last Word.

The Last Word: Vashon Jordan Jr.

The protests that swept across Chicago this summer had plenty of cameras on them, but who was behind the camera?
 

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