Federal prosecutors called their first witness Friday afternoon in the longtime alderman’s landmark corruption trial — Elmhurst College professor Constance Mixon, who gave the jury a crash course in the city’s political system.
Stories by matt masterson
‘A Fixture in Chicago Politics’: Testimony Begins in Ed Burke Corruption Trial With Crash Course on City Council
Nov 17, 2023 | Matt Masterson
CPD Consent Decree Monitor Holding Public Hearings to Build Transparency, Improve Compliance
Nov 16, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The Chicago Police Department has reached full compliance on just 6% of its consent decree requirements. Independent monitor Maggie Hickey expressed a belief that additional transparency will help bring police in line with necessary reforms.
Jury Picked in Corruption Trial of Former Ald. Ed Burke
Nov 16, 2023 | Matt Masterson
After a weeklong delay after an attorney tested positive for COVID-19, a jury was picked Thursday to decide the federal corruption trial of former Ald. Ed Burke and his two co-defendants.
Federal Prosecutors May Seek to Put ‘ComEd Four’ Behind Bars for Life, Defense Attorney Says
Nov 15, 2023 | Matt Masterson
At a hearing Wednesday morning, attorneys for the so-called “ComEd Four” argued that the scheduled January sentencing dates should be pushed back by a month in order to allow their defense teams to better prepare their sentencing briefings.
Chicago Firefighter Dies Battling Lincoln Park Blaze
Nov 13, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Chicago Fire Department officials confirmed Andrew “Drew” Price was killed after suffering injuries during a fire in the 2400 block of North Lincoln Avenue.
7 People Killed in Shootings Across Chicago Over Weekend: Police
Nov 13, 2023 | Matt Masterson
According to the Chicago Police Department, 20 people were shot in 18 separate shooting incidents between Friday evening and Sunday night. Those victims included at least one juvenile who was killed.
Following Sluggish Start and COVID Delay, Trial of Former Ald. Ed Burke to Resume This Week
Nov 13, 2023 | Matt Masterson
It was expected that during the first week of the longtime 14th Ward alderperson’s landmark racketeering trial a 12-person jury would be seated, opening arguments would be given and witness testimony would begin. Instead, none of those things happened.
‘ComEd Four’ Seeking to Delay Sentencing Dates
Nov 10, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The four former Commonwealth Edison officials convicted this year for their efforts to bribe ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan are seeking to push back their sentencing dates, but federal prosecutors claim there’s “no good reason” to do so.
Chicago Police Officer Charged, Relieved of Police Powers After Allegedly Striking Student at School: Report
Nov 9, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Officer Craig Lancaster, an active member of the Chicago Police Department, has reportedly been charged with aggravated battery following a May incident with 14-year-old JaQuwaun Williams outside Gresham Elementary School.
Ex-CTA Clerk Who Pleaded Guilty to Stealing $350K From Retirement Fund Sentenced to Year in Prison
Nov 8, 2023 | Matt Masterson
A federal judge this week sentenced 51-year-old Ayanna Nesbitt to one year and one day in prison after she entered a guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.
‘Chicago Politics?’ ‘Messy’: Jury Selection Continues For a Second Day in Former Ald. Ed Burke’s Corruption Case
Nov 7, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The selection process, which began slowly Monday morning, has continued at a leisurely pace throughout Tuesday. No jurors have yet been officially seated to hear the case.
Man Killed, Chicago Police Officer Wounded in South Shore Shooting Monday
Nov 6, 2023 | Matt Masterson
According to a statement from the Chicago Police Department, the shooting occurred just before noon Monday in the 7300 block of South Dante Avenue.
Father of Alleged Highland Park Gunman Pleads Guilty to Reckless Conduct Charges as Trial Was Set to Begin, Gets 60 Days in Prison
Nov 6, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Just as proceedings were set to begin, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart announced that Robert Crimo Jr. had agreed to plead guilty to seven Class A misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct, rather than the seven felony charges he had faced.
Shootings, Homicides in Chicago Continue Downward Trend in 2023 Compared to Recent Years: Police
Nov 3, 2023 | Matt Masterson
With two months left in 2023, Chicago remains on pace for double-digit percentage declines in the number of homicides and shootings recorded in the city as violence crime rates return to pre-pandemic levels.
Father of Alleged Highland Park Parade Gunman Heads to Trial on Charges He Recklessly Helped Son Obtain Firearms
Nov 3, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The bench trial of Robert Crimo Jr. is set to begin Monday in Lake County, more than 16 months after his son — Robert Crimo III — allegedly killed seven people and wounded dozens more during the Highland Park Fourth of July parade.
Despite Lingering Concerns, Consent Decree Monitoring Team Hopeful New Top Cop Can Spur Progress as Full Compliance Stands at 6%
Nov 2, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The independent monitoring team that oversees the CPD’s consent decree implementation published its eighth semi-annual report this week, which found that although the department has reached some level of compliance with 85% of paragraphs, it has only fully complied with 33 out of 552 paragraphs.
Chicago Man Charged After North Lawndale Halloween Party Mass Shooting That Left 15 Wounded
Oct 31, 2023 | Matt Masterson
William Groves, 48, has been charged with 15 counts of attempted first-degree murder, 15 counts of aggravated battery, 15 counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm in an occupied building and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Alleged Highland Park Parade Gunman Won’t Testify at Father’s Reckless Conduct Trial
Oct 30, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Attorneys for Robert Crimo Jr., who is set to go to trial next week on seven counts of reckless conduct, had sought to call his son — alleged parade shooter Robert Crimo III — to testify in his defense.
15 People Wounded in Halloween Party Shooting Early Sunday: Police
Oct 30, 2023 | Matt Masterson
No one was killed, but two people were listed in critical condition and the other 13 victims were hospitalized in fair or good condition following the shooting that took place at around 1 a.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of South Pulaski Road.
Chicago Man Charged After Wave of Arsons Targeting Halloween Decorations in Lincoln Square, North Center
Oct 25, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Chicago police on Wednesday announced Mario Munoz, 34, has been arrested and charged with a felony count of arson and a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.
Man Facing Hate Crime Charges After Allegedly Discharging Pepper Spray at Skokie Rally
Oct 25, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Skokie police announced Zevulen Ebert has been charged with two felony battery counts and two felony hate crime counts stemming from an incident at a rally Sunday.
Ta-Nehisi Coates Picked as Commencement Speaker for Northwestern’s Unique Prison Education Program Graduation
Oct 24, 2023 | Matt Masterson
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.
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.