Stories by matt masterson

Flooding in Chicago on July 6, 2023. (WTTW News)

Chicago Suing Oil, Gas Companies Over ‘Climate Deception’

Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court, against BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Phillips 66, Shell and their largest trade association, the American Petroleum Institute.

Youth activists organized a peaceful march to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s home on Aug. 13, 2020, to demand the removal of resource officers from Chicago Public Schools. (Matt Masterson / WTTW News)

Chicago Public Schools Set to Stop Using Resource Officers by Start of Next School Year, Resolution States

A new resolution from the city’s Board of Education directs Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez to enact a new whole school safety policy, which “must make explicit that the use of SROs within District schools will end by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.”

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

3 People Killed by Gunfire, 2 Young Boys Wounded in Holiday Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police

According to Chicago Police Department data, 19 people were injured or killed in 16 separate shootings between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

CPS Shows Strong Academic Recovery After COVID-19 Pandemic, Study Finds

District officials are lauding the findings from Harvard and Stanford researchers, which showed CPS was first in reading recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic among large school districts across the country.

Left: A photo of 5-year-old Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero. (Provided by family) Right: A migrant shelter located at 2241 S. Halsted St. (WTTW News)

Autopsy Reveals Sepsis, Other Viruses Caused Death of 5-Year-Old Migrant Boy Who Fell Ill at Pilsen Shelter

Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office records indicate Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero’s death was ruled “natural” and attributed to sepsis and other viruses, including COVID-19, adenovirus and rhinovirus/enterovirus.

Leighton Criminal Court Building (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

‘The Need is So Vital’: Cook County Court Clerk Launches New Department Focused on Expungements

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez on Thursday cut the ribbon on her office’s new Expungement Department, housed at the Leighton Criminal Court Building at 26th Street and California Avenue.

(WTTW News)

Chicago Public Schools Set to Cut Ties With Aramark Cleaning Management Company

The Board of Education next week will vote on whether to replace Aramark with seven other vendor companies to provide custodial and professional services for district schools.

(WTTW News)

The Northwestern Hazing Scandal: A Timeline of Allegations, Investigations and Lawsuits

Examining the rapidly unfolding hazing scandal that led to the firing of Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald and threw the university into turmoil.

Northwestern University football coach Pat Fitzgerald appears on “Chicago Tonight” in a file photo. (WTTW News)

Intent on Coaching Again, Pat Fitzgerald Pushing for December Trial Date in Lawsuit Against Northwestern

During a hearing Tuesday, Fitzgerald’s attorney Dan Webb argued that the case would have to go to trial later this year in order for Fitzgerald to have any chance of getting a job during the next coaching cycle ahead of the 2025 college football season.

Tim Mapes is pictured at the Dirksen Federal Building on Aug. 7, 2023. (Capitol News Illinois)

Madigan’s Ex-Chief of Staff Tim Mapes Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison Following Perjury Conviction

U.S. District Judge John Kness will hand down the sentence during a hearing in a Chicago courtroom Monday — more than five months after Mapes was convicted of making false declarations and attempted obstruction of justice.

(WTTW News)

Sentencing Date for Convicted Ex-Ald. Ed Burke Pushed Back to June 24

Judge Virginia Kendall initially set his sentencing date for June 19 — which is also the Juneteenth holiday — but on Friday she pushed that date back to June 24.

(WTTW News)

12-Year-Old Among 2 Girls Charged in String of Chicago Retail Thefts

Chicago police on Friday announced criminal charges against two girls, ages 12 and 17, after they allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from a half dozen different stores over the past few weeks and months.

(WTTW News)

Will Chicago Renew its ShotSpotter Contract? Public Sounds Off on Controversial Technology During Community Hearing

The city’s current contract with SoundThinking — which was previously known as ShotSpotter — expires Feb. 16. Mayor Brandon Johnson made a campaign promise to end the contract, but has not yet indicated whether he’ll renew the deal.

(WTTW News)

Friday Deadline for Cook County Residents to Apply for FEMA Funding After September Flash Floods

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, renters and homeowners have until 11:59 p.m. Friday to apply for the disaster assistance, which comes more than five months after rain and flooding wreaked havoc around Cook County.

Jussie Smollett attends his sentencing hearing on March 10, 2022. (WTTW News)

Jussie Smollett Asking Illinois Supreme Court to Review Hoax Hate Crime Convictions

The former “Empire” star on Monday filed a petition to the state’s high court after an appellate court upheld his 2021 convictions on five counts of disorderly conduct.

(WTTW News)

CTU-Backed Educators at Instituto del Progreso Latino Charter Schools Officially Begin Strike Tuesday

Chicago Teachers Union-backed educators at two Instituto del Progreso Latino charter schools are going on strike after they say little progress was made during the latest round of contract negotiations over the weekend.

(WTTW News)

2 People Killed in Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police

According to Chicago Police Department data, 11 people were shot in 11 separate incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Shootings, Homicides in Chicago Both Down at Least 25% to Start 2024, According to Police

According to the Chicago Police Department, there were 31 homicides recorded through the first month of 2024. That’s the lowest total for any January since 2019 (23 homicides) and the third-fewest in the last decade.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

CPS Proposes Delaying First Day of 2024-25 School Year With Democratic National Convention Coming to Chicago

CPS on Thursday released its proposed calendars for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years, which included a start date of Aug. 26 for the upcoming year due to the “estimated influx of 75,000 visitors: coming to Chicago for the convention.

(WTTW News)

3 Senn High School Students Shot, 1 Fatally, Near Edgewater Neighborhood School

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling confirmed the shooting occurred just after 3:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of West Thorndale Avenue, just blocks away from Senn’s campus.

Larry Snelling and Mayor Brandon Johnson shake hands while addressing the media during a press conference announcing Snelling’s appointment as the Chicago Police Department’s superintendent Aug. 14, 2023. (WTTW News)

‘We’ll Adjust’: Top Cop Larry Snelling Responds After Mayor Johnson Expresses Support For Removing School Resource Officers

Speaking Wednesday before the Economic Club of Chicago, Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said police officers will always have some role in school safety, even if they’re no longer working inside schools.

(WTTW News)

Trio of 15-Year-Olds Charged After Armed Robbery at CTA Red Line Stop

Chicago police on Tuesday morning announced that two boys and a girl have been charged with armed robbery. The boys also each face an additional count of armed robbery stemming from a separate incident Monday.

Tim Mapes is pictured at the Dirksen Federal Building on Aug. 7, 2023. (Capitol News Illinois)

Prosecutors Ask Judge to Sentence Madigan’s Ex-Chief of Staff Tim Mapes to As Much as 5 Years in Prison Following Perjury Conviction

In a sentencing memo filed Monday, the government asked a federal judge to sentence Mapes to between 51 and 63 months in prison following his conviction last August on charges of making false declarations and attempted obstruction of justice.

Police vehicle file photo. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Innovations High School Closed Monday After 2 Students Killed in Loop Shooting

In a message posted on its webpage, Innovations High School informed students that classes would be canceled Monday and then resume Tuesday.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

2 People Killed by Gunfire Over Weekend Across Chicago: Police

According to Chicago Police Department data, 13 people were shot across the city between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Police vehicle file photo. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

2 Innovations High School Students Killed in Afternoon Loop Shooting: Police

Two teen boys were fatally shot as they left their high school Friday afternoon in the Loop.