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Meredith Newman

@meredithnewman.bsky.social

investigative reporter for @illinoisanswers.bsky.social. being nosy. mnewman@bettergov.org

8 Posts102 Follower71 Folgt
Casey Toner@ctoner.bsky.social · 3w ago

chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog... Carlos Baker, who shot and killed his partner Krystal Rivera, was referred to a strict supervision program just weeks before the killing. But a supervisor never followed up on the email and he was never enrolled w @schuba.bsky.social @peternickeas.bsky.social

Chicago police failed to place troubled cop under strict supervision before he fatally shot partner

Carlos Baker was referred to a program that puts officers under intense oversight. Failing could mean “severe” discipline or firing. But Baker wasn't enrolled before he shot Officer Krystal Rivera bec...

chicago.suntimes.com

Grace Hauck@gracehauck.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Early Intervention therapies help kids — but Illinois pays providers less than other states, stalling access by @meredithnewman.bsky.social and Madison Hopkins for @illinoisanswers.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2026/06/04/e...

Early Intervention therapies help kids — but Illinois pays providers less than other states, stalling access

Hundreds of therapists are leaving the program each year, causing some families to miss out on services they’re legally entitled to.

illinoisanswers.org

Grace Hauck@gracehauck.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Prison or treatment? Thousands participate in mental health courts. Half graduate — and millions are left out. w/ Josh McGhee @mindsitenews.bsky.social and @drewjayadams.bsky.social @illinoisanswers.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2026/04/27/m...

Prison or treatment? Thousands participate in mental health courts. Half graduate — and millions are left out

This story is a collaboration between Illinois Answers and the Chicago bureau of MindSite News; sign up to receive their newsletter here.  Bloomington native Shayla Woodworth had struggled with mental...

illinoisanswers.org

Peter Nickeas@peternickeas.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Video released in the shooting death of Ofc Krystal Rivera from last summer. Been going through material, this story has been / will continue to be updated. illinoisanswers.org/2026/04/17/o...

Officer Krystal Rivera’s Partner Hid After Fatally Shooting Her and Failed to Provide Aid, New Video Shows

Body camera videos released Friday show that officer Carlos Baker ran up a stairwell after encountering an armed man and firing the gunshot that killed Rivera.

illinoisanswers.org

Grace Hauck@gracehauck.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Almost two years ago now, we wrote about a man with mental illness who was restrained in a chair for 3 days in an Illinois county jail. Now, he has received a settlement in his civil rights case. @illinoisanswers.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2026/04/07/t...

Mentally ill man restrained in chair for 3 days settles case in Williamson County

A man with mental illness who says he was strapped down to a chair for three days at Williamson County Jail reached a settlement in his civil rights case against […]

illinoisanswers.org

Illinois Answers Project@illinoisanswers.bsky.social · 6mo ago

An off-duty suburban cop crashed his car with his kids inside, fled home and held police at bay for four hours while armed, police records show. The standoff ended with a hug — and no charges that day. https://bit.ly/4c0pGYQ

‘You’re One of Us’: After Off-Duty Cop Crashed Car Then Holed Up at Home in Armed Standoff with Police, He Got a Big Hug and Initially Faced No Charges

Officer Ryan Harter eventually was charged with misdemeanors — nearly three weeks later.

bit.ly

Tom Schuba@schuba.bsky.social · 8mo ago

The mother of Chicago police Officer Krystal Rivera filed a wrongful death lawsuit Wednesday in which she says her daughter’s partner Carlos Baker was struggling to accept her decision to end their romantic relationship when he fatally shot her during a foot chase on June 5. tinyurl.com/5krk79br

Family of Chicago cop killed in botched chase sues Chicago Police Department and partner who shot her

Officer Krystal Rivera's family says in the wrongful death suit that Officer Carlos Baker was struggling to accept her decision to end their romantic relationship when he shot her in her back in Chath...

tinyurl.com

Grace Hauck@gracehauck.bsky.social · 9mo ago

“These are due process violations,” Nevdal said in court. “This is an equal protection issue.” A must-read today from @meredithnewman.bsky.social @illinoisanswers.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/t...

Too mentally ill for trial, she spent months in an Illinois jail as the state looked for a hospital bed. She died waiting.

Many defendants declared unfit for trial have often waited three months or longer to be transferred to a hospital – regularly exceeding the state’s deadline, an Illinois Answers Project investigation ...

illinoisanswers.org

Alex Nitkin@alexnitkin.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Important story from @meredithnewman.bsky.social on a symptom of the state's eroding public health infrastructure: mentally ill defendants spiraling in jail for months while they wait for psychiatric beds — sometimes with fatal consequences illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/t...

Too mentally ill for trial, she spent months in an Illinois jail as the state looked for a hospital bed. She died waiting.

Many defendants declared unfit for trial have often waited three months or longer to be transferred to a hospital – regularly exceeding the state’s deadline, an Illinois Answers Project investigation ...

illinoisanswers.org

Meredith Newman@meredithnewman.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Illinois defendants who have been found unfit for trial – and are in need of inpatient fitness restoration – are waiting nearly twice as long for a state hospital bed as they did five years ago. My latest for @illinoisanswers.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/t...

Too mentally ill for trial, she spent months in an Illinois jail as the state looked for a hospital bed. She died waiting.

Many defendants declared unfit for trial have often waited three months or longer to be transferred to a hospital – regularly exceeding the state’s deadline, an Illinois Answers Project investigation ...

illinoisanswers.org

Peter Nickeas@peternickeas.bsky.social · last yr.

The officer who authorities say accidentally shot + killed his partner had accrued more than a dozen misconduct allegations against him during his 3.5 years as a PO. Five were during his probation period, when CPD could have summarily fired him. Unclear how he ended up on a tac team. #chicago

Chicago Cop Who Inadvertently Shot and Killed Partner Has Lengthy Disciplinary Record over Short Career

Officer Carlos A. Baker has had more than a dozen complaints against him, records show. He has faced three suspensions and two reprimands.

illinoisanswers.org

Crystal Paul@cplhouse.bsky.social · last yr.

Peep my girl @meredithnewman.bsky.social breaking down the strict eligibility requirements locking over 100,000 families out of the state's largest subsidy on @wbez.org 's Reset. Then read our investigation at makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org www.wbez.org/reset-with-s...

Why are so many Illinois families locked out of childcare programs?

Illinois puts limits on a national childcare subsidy program (CCAP) that is far stricter than federal recommendations.

wbez.org

Meredith Newman@meredithnewman.bsky.social · last yr.

As part of @IllinoisAnswers' series "Making it in Chicago," @_MJHopkins and I investigated the cost of child care in Cook County. We found the state's largest child care subsidy doesn’t provide enough relief for many families and providers. illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/w...

'We're at the Mercy of Child Care:' Child Care Costs are Crushing Families — Illinois' Largest Subsidy Excludes Thousands

While the state infuses millions of dollars a year into child care programs, the strict eligibility requirements and limitations for its largest child care subsidy exclude tens of thousands of familie...

illinoisanswers.org