Toggle main menu visibility| June 12, 2020 11:30 amA freelance journalist is suing the city of Chicago after he alleged he was pepper-sprayed by a police officer while covering protests late last month following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.Jonathan Ballew, a credentialed journalist who has worked with local media outlets including Block Club Chicago, the Chicago Reporter and the Chicago Sun-Times, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday claiming he was “assaulted with a chemical agent” during the May 30 protests in River North.“A free press is critical to democracy,...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 12, 2020 11:30 amA freelance journalist is suing the city of Chicago after he alleged he was pepper-sprayed by a police officer while covering protests late last month following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.Jonathan Ballew, a credentialed journalist who has worked with local media outlets including Block Club Chicago, the Chicago Reporter and the Chicago Sun-Times, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday claiming he was “assaulted with a chemical agent” during the May 30 protests in River North.“A free press is critical to democracy,...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 23, 2020 4:21 pmThe Cook County Public Defender’s Office and several activist groups are suing the city of Chicago, accusing the police department of “disappearing” detainees by preventing them from making phone calls after their arrest, a practice they say has only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent protests.The public defender joined groups like Black Lives Matter Chicago, GoodKids MadCity and others in filing a lawsuit Tuesday against the city in Cook County Chancery Court, claiming attorneys were unable to contact dozens of detainees...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 23, 2020 4:21 pmThe Cook County Public Defender’s Office and several activist groups are suing the city of Chicago, accusing the police department of “disappearing” detainees by preventing them from making phone calls after their arrest, a practice they say has only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent protests.The public defender joined groups like Black Lives Matter Chicago, GoodKids MadCity and others in filing a lawsuit Tuesday against the city in Cook County Chancery Court, claiming attorneys were unable to contact dozens of detainees...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 5, 2020 6:10 pmMayor Lori Lightfoot will not pull police officers from Chicago Public School buildings, despite calls from students, teachers and activists who say that having officers in schools makes kids feel less safe and can negatively impact their learning.“Yeah we’re not gonna do that,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said during a Friday morning press conference when asked if she would consider canceling CPS’ existing contract with the Chicago Police Department. “Unfortunately, we need security in our schools.”The school district spent $33 million this year on...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 5, 2020 6:10 pmMayor Lori Lightfoot will not pull police officers from Chicago Public School buildings, despite calls from students, teachers and activists who say that having officers in schools makes kids feel less safe and can negatively impact their learning.“Yeah we’re not gonna do that,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said during a Friday morning press conference when asked if she would consider canceling CPS’ existing contract with the Chicago Police Department. “Unfortunately, we need security in our schools.”The school district spent $33 million this year on...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 4, 2020 6:33 pmNew research has found that nearly one in six cases of COVID-19 in Chicago and Illinois can be connected to people moving through the Cook County Jail, which at one point was dubbed the “largest-known source” of coronavirus cases in the U.S.According to a  in the journal Health Affairs, cycling through Cook County Jail is associated with 15.7% of all documented cases of the virus in Illinois and 15.9% in Chicago through mid-April.“As the pandemic began, I realized this was going to be a huge driver,” Eric Reinhart, a University of...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 4, 2020 6:33 pmNew research has found that nearly one in six cases of COVID-19 in Chicago and Illinois can be connected to people moving through the Cook County Jail, which at one point was dubbed the “largest-known source” of coronavirus cases in the U.S.According to a  in the journal Health Affairs, cycling through Cook County Jail is associated with 15.7% of all documented cases of the virus in Illinois and 15.9% in Chicago through mid-April.“As the pandemic began, I realized this was going to be a huge driver,” Eric Reinhart, a University of...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 2, 2020 12:05 pmChicago will move ahead into the next phase of reopening Wednesday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced. in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.Lightfoot on Tuesday said she made the decision only after speaking with business owners, chambers of commerce and city officials, all of whom she said were fully behind moving into phase three of the state’s Restore Illinois plan during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.“Everywhere I went I asked a question: Should we open or should we delay?” the mayor said during a press...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 2, 2020 12:05 pmChicago will move ahead into the next phase of reopening Wednesday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced. in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.Lightfoot on Tuesday said she made the decision only after speaking with business owners, chambers of commerce and city officials, all of whom she said were fully behind moving into phase three of the state’s Restore Illinois plan during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.“Everywhere I went I asked a question: Should we open or should we delay?” the mayor said during a press...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 18, 2020 12:45 pmThe Illinois Supreme Court has rejected a request from the Chicago branch of the Fraternal Order of Police to destroy thousands of officer complaint records that are at least five years old.The case stems from a yearslong battle between the city of Chicago and the FOP, which has argued that its collective bargaining agreement requires that these complaint files be destroyed after five years.But six of the seven Illinois Supreme Court justices voted in the city’s favor, finding that this single collective bargaining agreement provision...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 18, 2020 12:45 pmThe Illinois Supreme Court has rejected a request from the Chicago branch of the Fraternal Order of Police to destroy thousands of officer complaint records that are at least five years old.The case stems from a yearslong battle between the city of Chicago and the FOP, which has argued that its collective bargaining agreement requires that these complaint files be destroyed after five years.But six of the seven Illinois Supreme Court justices voted in the city’s favor, finding that this single collective bargaining agreement provision...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 19, 2020 10:13 amThe Chicago Police Department has missed more than two-thirds of its consent decree deadlines, according to a new report by the independent monitor tasked with overseeing the CPD’s mandated reforms.The CPD met just 22 of 74 deadlines between September 2019 and Feb. 29, 2020, according to independent monitor Maggie Hickey.“This is a critical time in history and for law enforcement,” Hickey said in a statement. “The recent grief, outrage, protest, and unrest spurred by the tragic death of George Floyd demonstrate the urgent need for police...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 19, 2020 10:13 amThe Chicago Police Department has missed more than two-thirds of its consent decree deadlines, according to a new report by the independent monitor tasked with overseeing the CPD’s mandated reforms.The CPD met just 22 of 74 deadlines between September 2019 and Feb. 29, 2020, according to independent monitor Maggie Hickey.“This is a critical time in history and for law enforcement,” Hickey said in a statement. “The recent grief, outrage, protest, and unrest spurred by the tragic death of George Floyd demonstrate the urgent need for police...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 23, 2020 1:58 pmA federal judge will decide whether social distancing and other COVID-19 prevention measures ordered at the Cook County Jail are being properly instituted following calls from criminal justice advocates for additional precautions to protect detainees.Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and his office say they are doing everything they can to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus inside the jail. But attorneys representing detainees at the jail say much more needs to be done., the jail was recently dubbed the “largest-known source of U.S....…Toggle main menu visibility| April 23, 2020 1:58 pmA federal judge will decide whether social distancing and other COVID-19 prevention measures ordered at the Cook County Jail are being properly instituted following calls from criminal justice advocates for additional precautions to protect detainees.Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and his office say they are doing everything they can to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus inside the jail. But attorneys representing detainees at the jail say much more needs to be done., the jail was recently dubbed the “largest-known source of U.S....WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 24, 2020 3:35 pmWeeks ago, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he wanted to perform 10,000 coronavirus tests a day. On Friday, Pritzker announced Illinois has reached and surpassed that mark.At his daily public briefing, Pritzker said the state conducted 16,124 COVID-19 tests across its 112 public testing sites on Thursday, besting the previous single-day high of some 9,300 tests set on Wednesday.“There’s still more work to do to maintain and build on this progress,” he said, “but reaching and surpassing the 10,000 mark is a great first step.”That announcement came as...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 24, 2020 3:35 pmWeeks ago, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he wanted to perform 10,000 coronavirus tests a day. On Friday, Pritzker announced Illinois has reached and surpassed that mark.At his daily public briefing, Pritzker said the state conducted 16,124 COVID-19 tests across its 112 public testing sites on Thursday, besting the previous single-day high of some 9,300 tests set on Wednesday.“There’s still more work to do to maintain and build on this progress,” he said, “but reaching and surpassing the 10,000 mark is a great first step.”That announcement came as...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 1, 2020 4:58 pmAn Illinois man who took part in protests in both Chicago and Minneapolis over the weekend is facing federal criminal charges after he allegedly handed out explosives and encouraged others to “light that b***h and throw it” at police officers.Matthew Rupert, 28, was charged with civil disorder, carrying on a riot and possession of unregistered destructive devices, according to a federal complaint filed Monday in the U.S. District Court in Minnesota.According to the complaint, Rupert, who lives in Galesburg, Illinois, posted a message on...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 1, 2020 4:58 pmAn Illinois man who took part in protests in both Chicago and Minneapolis over the weekend is facing federal criminal charges after he allegedly handed out explosives and encouraged others to “light that b***h and throw it” at police officers.Matthew Rupert, 28, was charged with civil disorder, carrying on a riot and possession of unregistered destructive devices, according to a federal complaint filed Monday in the U.S. District Court in Minnesota.According to the complaint, Rupert, who lives in Galesburg, Illinois, posted a message on...WW…