The first cohort of students in Northwestern University’s Prison Education Program are set to graduate next month, and when they do they’ll be joined by one of the most renowned writers and journalists in the country.
Stories by matt masterson
Ta-Nehisi Coates Picked as Commencement Speaker for Northwestern’s Unique Prison Education Program Graduation
Oct 24, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Cook County Prosecutors Won’t Charge Man Accused of Firing Gun Near Pro-Palestinian Rally in Skokie
Oct 24, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The incident occurred Sunday evening near a banquet hall in Skokie, where about 1,000 people had gathered to show solidarity with Israel, according to event organizers. A group of about 200 pro-Palestinian protesters also staged their own rally near the hall.
Chicago Immigration Attorney Facing Fraud Charges Faked Job Offers and Advised Clients to Enter Sham Marriages, Prosecutors Say
Oct 23, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Mohammad Reza Baniassadi allegedly conspired to provide fraudulent information to U.S. immigration authorities to obtain benefits for his foreign national clients over the course of seven years.
12-Year-Old Boy Among 7 People Killed By Gunfire Over Weekend in Chicago: Police
Oct 23, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The victim — who was identified as Damien Green, according to Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office records — was one of 23 total people who were shot in 22 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
Chicago Teen Wounded by Police in Guitar Store Shooting Reaches $1.9M Settlement With City of Des Plaines
Oct 19, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Attorneys for Rylan Wilder announced Thursday their client had settled with the city of Des Plaines, just as they were about to go to trial over claims that the officer’s actions were excessive and represented willful and wanton conduct.
‘Nobody Can Sit on the Sidelines’: Chicago’s Top Cop Larry Snelling Talks Training, Technology and Community Trust
Oct 18, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The Englewood native has been Chicago’s top cop for less than a month, but after spending nearly three decades serving in various roles throughout the department, he believes he knows what’s needed to make improvements for his officers and residents throughout the city.
CPS Announces New High School Admissions Testing Dates After Technical Issues Halted Previous Exam
Oct 18, 2023 | Matt Masterson
CPS officials said the High School Admissions Test will be held for district students on either Oct. 24 or Oct. 25 for those taking the exam in English. Students testing in Spanish, Arabic, Polish, Urdu or Simplified Chinese will take the HSAT at school on Nov. 1.
Chicago Police Warn of Arsonist Targeting Halloween Decorations Around Lincoln Square, North Center
Oct 17, 2023 | Matt Masterson
According to police, the person initially ignited several sidewalk autumn or Halloween displays along with some street corner garbage cans. The last three fires have been set with decorations on the front porches of homes.
Pedestrian Fatally Struck While Crossing DuSable Lake Shore Drive: Police
Oct 17, 2023 | Matt Masterson
According to Chicago police, two adult men were attempting to walk across the 800 block of North Lake Shore Drive just before 5:30 a.m. The pair were not in a crosswalk, police said, and one of the men was struck by a BMW X-3 that was heading southbound.
Justice Department Launches Federal Hate Crime Investigation Into Plainfield Stabbing That Left 6-Year-Old Muslim Boy Dead
Oct 16, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The Justice Department on Sunday announced it has opened a federal hate crimes investigation into the fatal stabbing, after 71-year-old Joseph Czuba allegedly stabbed Wadea Al-Fayoume, 6, and his mother, 32-year-old Hanaan Shahin, in a Plainfield Township home.
4 People Killed By Gunfire Over Weekend in Chicago: Police
Oct 16, 2023 | Matt Masterson
According to Chicago Police Department data, 21 people were struck by gunfire in 19 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m Sunday.
Chicago Police Not Aware of Active Threats, But Will Increase Patrols Across City in Jewish and Palestinian Community Areas
Oct 13, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The Chicago Police Department says it will be deploying additional patrols this weekend to local mosques and synagogues as tensions continue amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Skokie Police Investigate Students’ Online Conversation About Niles North High School, Synagogue and a Bomb
Oct 13, 2023 | Matt Masterson
“Thank you to our community partners who shared this information to assist with an expeditious investigation into this incident in light of recent events, including the current conflict in Israel,” the department said in a statement.
Brother of Man Charged With Killing Chicago Police Officer Ella French Pleads Guilty to Gun Charges
Oct 12, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Eric Morgan, who faced charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice, has reached a plea agreement more than two years after the shooting, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office announced.
Man Who Spent 16 Years in Prison for Rolling Meadows Killing Set for Release After Murder Charges Dropped
Oct 11, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Patrick Taylor, who spent 16 years in custody following his arrest and conviction in the fatal shooting of a suburban rapper in a Rolling Meadows home, is set to be released Wednesday after prosecutors dropped charges against him.
Technical Issues Force CPS to Pause High School Admissions Testing Wednesday
Oct 11, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The district said it paused the administration of the hour-long High School Admissions Test for eighth grade CPS students seeking to enroll in a district selective enrollment high school.
Skokie Man Charged in Connection to Several Suburban Bomb Threats
Oct 11, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Skokie Police on Wednesday announced that 23-year-old Jacob Spiro was arrested this week and charged with two counts of falsely making a terrorist threat and one count of disorderly conduct.
Villa Park Man Charged With Property Damage, Stalking After Incident at Gov. Pritzker’s Chicago Home
Oct 10, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The Illinois State Police on Tuesday announced that 38-year-old Adam Dabash had been charged with two counts of stalking and one count of criminal damage to property.
8 People Wounded in Mass Shooting Outside River North Restaurant Sunday: Police
Oct 9, 2023 | Matt Masterson
According to police, the shooting took place just after 2:30 a.m. outside Blum, a restaurant and nightclub in the 300 block of West Erie Street.
Aurora Man Facing Gun Charges in Connection to Willowbrook Juneteenth Mass Shooting That Left 1 Dead, More Than 20 Injured
Oct 6, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Anthony Mothershed, 19, has been arrested and charged aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, months after the deadly shooting at an outdoor gathering during the Juneteenth holiday weekend.
Ex-Northwestern Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald Files Wrongful Termination Suit Against University
Oct 5, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Pat Fitzgerald’s attorney Dan Webb on Thursday announced that the former coach has filed a lawsuit in Cook County court against Northwestern and its president, Michael Schill, alleging the coach was “wrongfully and illegally terminated.”
Shootings, Homicides in Chicago Continue to Decline Through September: Police
Oct 4, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Through the first three quarters of 2023, homicides and shootings in Chicago are down more than 10% compared to the same time last year, and are each at their lowest totals since at least 2019.
University of Chicago Statistics Professor Among 2023 Class of MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’ Honorees
Oct 4, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Rina Foygel Barber, 40, was announced as one of the newest members of the “genius grant” fellowship, which provides recipients with a $800,000 no-strings-attached award over five years to spend however they want.
COPA Set to Launch Public Training Program on Police Oversight, Bodycam Video Analysis and More
Oct 3, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability will launch its second People’s Academy — a six-week training course that’s open to the public and gives an in-depth look at some of the office’s operations, such as complaint investigations, body-worn camera video analysis and disciplinary recommendations.
5 People Killed By Gunfire Over Weekend in Chicago: Police
Oct 2, 2023 | Matt Masterson
According to Chicago Police Department figures, there were 37 people shot in 30 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
Ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore Facing New SEC Fraud Charges
Sep 29, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The SEC on Thursday announced it had filed charges against Anne Pramaggiore, ComEd and its parent company Exelon, alleging they engaged in a “multi-year scheme to corruptly influence and reward” former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.