Investigative Reporter at @wttw.bsky.social News/Chicago Tonight. Past life: Illinois Answers Project, BGA, Columbus Dispatch, ThisWeek News. I cover cops, courts, energy, health, finance, education, pensions etc. Prolific FOIA filer. He/him.
Women’s softball is gaining momentum across the world, and in Mexico, the sport’s growing popularity is creating new opportunities for women and girls who historically have had few places to compete professionally.
The Rise of Women’s Softball in Mexico CityWomen’s softball is gaining momentum across the world, and in Mexico, the sport’s growing popularity is creating new opportunities for women and girls who historically have had few places to compete p...news.wttw.comIllinois residents who lost food assistance benefits following federal rule changes will receive $400 under a new program announced by Gov. JB Pritzker.
Illinoisans Kicked Off SNAP to Receive One-Time $400 Benefit Under New ProgramThe $70 million program can support up to 175,000 Illinoisans who lost or received reduced SNAP benefits due to changes in eligibility. No paperwork or application is required; the one-time benefits a...news.wttw.comUntil recently, childcare assistance, early intervention and preschool for all were split across three state agencies and the governor’s office. But since July 1, they’ve all been brought under the umbrella of the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood.
One Month In, a New State Department Makes Streamlining Access to Early Childhood Programs Its GoalUntil recently, these state programs were split across three state agencies and the governor’s office. But since July 1, they’ve all been brought under the umbrella of the new Illinois Department of E...news.wttw.comDesigned to help people with serious mental illness, Joliet Treatment Center repeatedly failed to prevent or respond to fires, despite two deaths.
A Prison on FireDesigned to help people with serious mental illness, Joliet Treatment Center repeatedly failed to prevent or respond to fires, despite two deaths.news.wttw.comNew report: Cook County judges often ordered accused people to be detained while awaiting trial despite, by the court’s own assessments — being at low risk of rearrest or missing court.
Cook County Judges Often Detain Pretrial Defendants Deemed a Low Risk of Reoffending or Missing Court, Report SaysA recent report from the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice says Cook County judges often ordered accused people to be detained while awaiting trial despite, by the court’s own assessments, being a...news.wttw.comChicago police failed to meet a federal consent decree deadline to disclose all 2025 use-of-force incidents, as officials acknowledged officers’ use of force continues to rise.
CPD Brass Missed Deadline to Detail How Many Times Officers Used Force Against Chicagoans in 2025: RecordsThat missed deadline comes as CPD officials acknowledged, again, that the number of times officers used force against members of the public “continues to trend upward,” according to the report.news.wttw.comAfter hours of contentious debate, the Chicago Board of Education approved a nearly $10 billion budget — banking on $150 million in additional state funding that has yet to materialize.
CPS Board Members Pass Last-Minute Amended Budget Assuming $150M More in State Revenue Despite Sharp Criticism Cash May Not MaterializeThe Chicago Board of Education on Thursday passed an approximately $10 billion budget after hours of contentious debate, a lengthy recess, sharp questions over revenue assumptions and a last-minute am...news.wttw.comArts Beat: If dealing with throngs of Lollapalooza fans isn’t on your list this week, don’t fret. From a Shakespeare production in Rogers Park to a well-curated car-themed film series, here’s what’s on offer.
Shakespeare in a Park and a Car-Themed Film Series: 4 Arts Picks for Your WeekendEvery Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.news.wttw.comMayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order designed to ban purchases of guns and ammunition from firms that flout federal law and do not take steps to prevent weapons trafficking.
Mayor Johnson Signs Executive Order Designed to Ban Purchases From Gun Dealers That Flout LawsGun policy group the Brady Campaign has urged elected officials to use their procurement power to force gun companies to change how they do business, since cities and states spend millions of dollars ...news.wttw.comFormer cardiologist Lisa Nee joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss budget shortfalls, property taxes and building relationships in Springfield.
Chicago Mayoral Candidate Lisa Nee on Affordable Housing, Fiscal Responsibility and Public SafetyChicago’s race for mayor is officially underway as candidates begin collecting signatures this week for a spot on February’s ballot. Former cardiologist Lisa Nee is making the case for her spot throug...news.wttw.comCPS CEO Macquline King joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss her revised budget and why she thinks board members should pass it.
CPS CEO Macquline King on Revised $10 Billion Budget Proposal, Upcoming Board VoteCPS CEO Macquline King joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss her revised budget and why she thinks board members should pass it.news.wttw.comA federal judge expanded the lawsuit accusing the Chicago Police of targeting Black and Latino drivers with a massive campaign of traffic stops to include all Black and Latino drivers who have been pulled over in the past five years — or could be in the future. (via @heathercherone.bsky.social)
Judge Expands Lawsuit Accusing CPD of Targeting Black, Latino Chicagoans With Traffic Stops to Include All Black, Latino DriversChicago taxpayers have already paid $3.4 million to defend the lawsuit that accuses the CPD of making more than 1.5 million traffic stops between 2016 and 2023 based on dubious evidence of minor viola...news.wttw.comChicago has a rat problem and it isn’t likely to improve if the city doesn’t come up with a new playbook, according to a just-released analysis by the city’s watchdog.
Chicago Can’t Keep Trying to Poison Its Way Out of Rat Problem: Watchdog ReportChicago has a rat problem and it isn't likely to improve if the city doesn't come up with a new playbook, according to a just-released analysis by the city's watchdog.news.wttw.comChicago-Area Live Music Recommendations: Lollapalooza, Lollapalooza aftershows and more than a few shows that have nothing to do with Lollapalooza.
Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for July 29-Aug. 4Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.news.wttw.comBrandon Johnson has yet to announce a campaign for mayor, but he still has the backing of Stacy Davis Gates: “I hope to see the people who support him get out here and pass a petition. If he’s not going to pass one, I’ll pass one for him.”
‘I Hope to See Mayor Johnson Come Off the Sideline’ in Mayoral Race: CTU President Stacy Davis GatesWhile Mayor Brandon Johnson has yet to announce if he’s running for a second term, he still has the backing of one of his most prominent supporters.news.wttw.comMayor Brandon Johnson said he hopes a city watchdog’s finding that Chicago followed its rules in spending $269 million to care for migrants will prompt a reevaluation of his handling of the humanitarian crisis.
Johnson Hopes Watchdog’s Finding That City ‘Accurately and Transparently’ Accounted for Migrant Crisis Spending Prompts Reevaluation“For Black Chicago in particular, it kind of felt a way that government was able to turn on resources in a moment’s notice that our communities have been starved for decades,” Mayor Brandon Johnson sa...news.wttw.comChicago IG: The leaders of the agency tasked with investigating misconduct by Chicago police officers created “a vacuum of accountability” by failing to follow its own rules while trying to clear a massive backlog of complaints. (via @heathercherone.bsky.social)
Agency Charged With Probing Chicago Police Department Misconduct Created ‘Vacuum of Accountability’ By Clearing Backlog: Watchdog“By administratively closing hundreds of cases COPA may have alleviated its own burden, but it also created a vacuum of accountability within the police oversight system it is mandated to uphold,” acc...news.wttw.comCPS budget: “We’re calling on board members to call (the proposal) a first draft. (Every year) we push them, we challenge them… and we finally get to a place that both parties can tolerate. And we’re not there yet.”
Revised CPS Budget That Removes Furloughs Still a ‘First Draft,’ Says CTU PresidentWith a Thursday vote looming on the next Chicago Public Schools budget, a revised proposal from the district looks to avoid furloughs to close its $732 million deficit, but still leaves 1,601 layoffs ...news.wttw.comAfter going three weeks without measurable precipitation, Chicago was hammered by a pair of storms that dumped nearly three inches of rain at Midway Airport, where wind gusts topped 70 miles per hour.
Chicago Area Cleaning Up After Powerful Storms Cause Flooding and Downed TreesChicago was hammered by a pair of storms on Monday that dumped nearly three inches of rain at Midway Airport, where wind gusts topped 70 miles per hour.news.wttw.comIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed 78 bills last week, including two affecting teachers.
Pritzker Signed 78 Bills Last Week, Including Requirements for Boater’s Insurance and Home Service Appointment WindowsIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed 78 bills last week, including two affecting teachers.news.wttw.com