NEW: A former state contractor has been charged in a $4.6 million scheme to defraud unemployment benefits in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic by falsifying wage records for herself and hundreds of others. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/09/f...

Former IDES contractor charged in $4.6 million COVID unemployment fraud scheme

Andrea Wellington, 35, was charged in an indictment made public in U.S. District Court on Friday with 21 counts of wire fraud.

chicagotribune.com

Here's one you don't see every day...A NW Side man charged with a federal felony for allegedly using a laser pointer at a CPD helicopter from his back porch. He'd previously been charged with misdemeanors in Cook County criminal court, where prosecutors alleged he'd "temporarily blinded the pilot"

Nobody embodied Chicago Bears football more than Mike Ditka. His face even resembled the bear on the team logo, a face once described as “a clenched fist” that became familiar to millions. RIP Iron Mike: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/09/m...

Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears Hall of Famer and Super Bowl-winning coach, dies at 86

Nobody embodied Chicago Bears football more than Mike Ditka, who became the face of the franchise as both a Hall of Fame tight end and a Super Bowl-winning coach.

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And now Judge Perry has ordered the full filing by the US attorney's office to be unsealed, saying there is no basis to redact a signing attorney's name.

Jason Meisner@jmetr22b.bsky.social · 3d ago

The U.S. attorney's office has flied a public version of their motion to disclose grand jury materials in the "Broadview Six" case that includes some heavy redactions, including one of the attorneys in the signature block at the end. 🤔

NEW: In asking for internal communications in the "Broadview 6" case, the judge focuses on two things: any influence from higher ups in DOJ to bring charges, and an email U.S. Atty Andrew Boutros received with grand jury transcripts. And she wants metadata: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/09/b...

‘Broadview Six’ judge requests US attorney’s office communications, including Boutros email

The federal judge considering potential sanctions in the controversial “Broadview Six” made her first formal discovery requests to the U.S. attorney’s office on Friday.

chicagotribune.com

JUST IN: Judge April Perry has made her requests for U.S. Attorney's Office communications in the Broadview Six case, including the email sent to US Atty Andrew Boutros with the grand jury transcript from Oct. 9

Jason Meisner@jmetr22b.bsky.social · 3d ago

The U.S. attorney's office has flied a public version of their motion to disclose grand jury materials in the "Broadview Six" case that includes some heavy redactions, including one of the attorneys in the signature block at the end. 🤔

The U.S. attorney's office has flied a public version of their motion to disclose grand jury materials in the "Broadview Six" case that includes some heavy redactions, including one of the attorneys in the signature block at the end. 🤔

JUST IN: The family of Silverio Villegas González has filed a federal tort claim alleging he was “unlawfully” killed by an ICE agent in Franklin Park last year and that the feds lied about the circumstances and failed to investigate www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/08/f... @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social

Family of Mexican father killed by ICE agent in Franklin Park files claim against federal government

Just a year after Silverio Villegas González was fatally shot by an immigration enforcement agent during a traffic stop in Franklin Park, his family is seeking accountability from the federal governme...

chicagotribune.com

NEW: A founder of the cryptocurrency Kishu Inu has been indicted in Chicago on charges alleging he and his associates bilked investors of nearly $10 million through a “rug pull” scheme where they sold off coins they had secretly distributed to themselves. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/07/c...

Crypto coin founder charged in Chicago with scamming investors in ‘rug pull’ scheme

A founder of the cryptocurrency Kishu Inu has been indicted in Chicago on federal charges alleging he and his associates bilked investors of nearly $10 million through a “rug pull” scheme.

chicagotribune.com

Here is the aerial view of the Marimar Martinez shooting as reconstructed by an expert hired by her lawyers. The first three shots came as Agent Charles Exum stood to the front right of Martinez's car as she tried to pull away. Shots four and five came from the side and back, the analysis says:

NEW: Lawyers for Chicago woman shot by Border Patrol agent call for criminal charges, saying it's "not a political issue." “It’s the Department of Justice. It’s not the Department of Republicans. It’s not the Department of Democrats." www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/05/m...

Lawyers for Chicago woman shot by Border Patrol agent call for criminal charges

Attorneys for Marimar Martinez, shot by a Border Patrol agent during Operation Midway Blitz last October, called on authorities to file criminal charges against the agent involved Monday.

chicagotribune.com

JUST IN: Attorneys for Marimar Martinez are showing reporters their reconstruction of her shooting by Border Patrol agent Charles Exum, I clying each of the five shots

A press conference is underway on the filing of a federal lawsuit by Marimar Martinez, the Chicago woman shot by a Border Patrol agent during Operation Midway Blitz last October

Jason Meisner@jmetr22b.bsky.social · last wk.

On Monday, a year and a day after Marimar Martinez was shot by a Border Patrol agent, her attorneys will unveil a new animated reconstruction of the shooting they say demonstrates "how the physical evidence contradicts the government’s account of events" story: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/02/m...

The front page from May 29, 2015. And our story at Hastert's sentencing a year later www.chicagotribune.com/2016/04/28/j...

JUST IN: Dennis Hastert, the former US House Speaker from Illinios, dies at 84 In 2016, Hastert admitted that he sexually abused teenage boys when he was a wrestling coach at Yorkville High School decades ago. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/05/d...

Dennis Hastert, the former US House Speaker from Illinois, dies at 84

Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who was sentenced to 15 months in prison in a hush money case tied to sexual abuse, has died. He was 84.

chicagotribune.com

On Monday, a year and a day after Marimar Martinez was shot by a Border Patrol agent, her attorneys will unveil a new animated reconstruction of the shooting they say demonstrates "how the physical evidence contradicts the government’s account of events" story: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/02/m...

Marimar Martinez to file federal lawsuit over shooting by Border Patrol agent

Lawyers for Marimar Martinez, the Chicago woman shot five times by a Border Patrol agent during Operation Midway Blitz, said Friday they’re filing a federal lawsuit next week that includes new ballist...

chicagotribune.com

JUST IN: Lawyers for Marimar Martínez, the Chicago woman shot 5 times by a Border agent during Midway Blitz, will file a federal lawsuit Monday alleging new ballistics analysis shows Agent Charles Exum was not in harm’s way when he opened fire Background: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/m...

Marimar Martínez lawyers say officials ‘created a culture of violence’ among agents

Lawyers for Marimar Martínez, the Chicago woman shot by a Border Patrol agent in October, said evidence released this week “shows the world” that Trump administration officials “have created a culture...

chicagotribune.com

JUDGE: How would you envision that looking, then? PROSECUTOR: What part? JUDGE: The part where I appoint an independent person in the interest of justice to investigate the Department of Justice, and that person is being supervised by the Department of Justice www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/01/b...

Judge to begin inquiry that could lead to criminal contempt charges in ‘Broadview Six’ case

A federal judge on Thursday said she’d initiate a “fact finding” process to determine whether potential criminal contempt charges are warranted against prosecutors in the “Broadview Six” case.

chicagotribune.com

UPDATE: The decision by Judge April Perry to open an inquiry into “Broadview Six” wrongdoing puts Chicago’s U.S. attorney’s office in largely uncharted waters and adds fuel to a scandal that erupted four months ago Where will it end? Ask your Magic 8-Ball www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/01/b...

Judge to begin inquiry that could lead to criminal contempt charges in ‘Broadview Six’ case

A federal judge on Thursday said she’d initiate a “fact finding” process to determine whether potential criminal contempt charges are warranted against prosecutors in the “Broadview Six” case.

chicagotribune.com

The Tribune reported exclusively two weeks ago that this deal was in the works: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/18/g...

City strikes sweeping Guevara police misconduct deal as proposed settlement fund soars

Mayor Brandon Johnson forecasts a $401 million cost for settlements in 2027, and much of it appears set to go to a deal to settle cases tied to former Detective Reynaldo Guevara.

chicagotribune.com

Jason Meisner@jmetr22b.bsky.social · last wk.

The proposed $261 million mass settlement for lawsuits related to corrupt former Chicago police detective Reynaldo Guevara appears to be the largest single police misconduct settlement in U.S. history. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/01/2...

The proposed $261 million mass settlement for lawsuits related to corrupt former Chicago police detective Reynaldo Guevara appears to be the largest single police misconduct settlement in U.S. history. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/01/2...

$261 million mass settlement for Guevara police misconduct, Mayor Brandon Johnson proposes

Mayor Brandon Johnson is proposing a staggering $260.8 million settlement to resolve 16 lawsuits alleging police misconduct by disgraced former Chicago Det. Reynaldo Guevara.

chicagotribune.com

DEVELOPING: A federal judge is initiating a “fact finding” process to determine whether the U.S. attorney’s office intentionally misled her in the “Broadview Six” case, a rare step that could lead to criminal contempt charges or other sanctions. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/01/b...

Judge to begin inquiry that could lead to criminal contempt charges in ‘Broadview Six’ case

A federal judge on Thursday said she’d initiate a “fact finding” process to determine whether potential criminal contempt charges are warranted against prosecutors in the “Broadview Six” case.

chicagotribune.com

Attorney Chris Parente tells reporters "the message that has been sent is that no one is above the law." "They dragged these six people behind me through the mud for over a year, and now the tables have turned," he says.

Jason Meisner@jmetr22b.bsky.social · last wk.

JUST IN: Judge April Perry says she will "go ahead and create a list of things I would like further evidence on" in the "Broadview Six" case. She says any presentation would be "under oath, under penalty of perjury."

JUST IN: Judge April Perry says she will "go ahead and create a list of things I would like further evidence on" in the "Broadview Six" case. She says any presentation would be "under oath, under penalty of perjury."

As this hearing approaches, several of the ex-Broadview Six defendants have already arrived at the courthouse. Also, the court is handing out seating tickets for media. We're not expecting USA Boutros to be in court. I'll bring the hightlights here: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/01/b...

Long-awaited ‘Broadview Six’ hearing could spark further scandal for US attorney’s office

Four months after the implosion of the “Broadview Six” case against Operation Midway Blitz protesters, a federal judge on Thursday is finally scheduled to hear arguments that could spark further scand...

chicagotribune.com

A federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments today in the “Broadview 6” case that has put a national spotlight on Chicago’s US attorney’s office Will she order further inquiry into allegations of vindictive prosecution and grand jury misconduct? Stey tuned: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/01/b...

Long-awaited ‘Broadview Six’ hearing could spark further scandal for US attorney’s office

Four months after the implosion of the “Broadview Six” case against Operation Midway Blitz protesters, a federal judge on Thursday is finally scheduled to hear arguments that could spark further scand...

chicagotribune.com

NEW: Romeo Blackman was a 3rd Grader when he wrote in a “What I Would Do As President” project he’d rid Englewood of gun violence. By the time he was in his late teens, Blackman had become a killer himself many times over. He got life in prison today: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/29/g...

‘Goonie’ gang leader gets life in federal prison for spate of murders, shootings that terrorized Englewood

On Tuesday, more than three years after he was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, Romeo Blackman stood in a federal courtroom to hear a sentence he already knew was coming: life in prison without p...

chicagotribune.com

Lawyers for the "Broadview Six" have submitted Sheri Mecklenburg's resignation letter to Judge Perry in advance of Thursday's hearing, saying it contains "additional facts that directly and materially implicate" issues pending before the court. 👇

Jason Meisner@jmetr22b.bsky.social · 2w ago

UPDATE: A DOJ spokesman says Sheri Mecklenburg’s claim that she recommended misdemeanors in the Broadview Six case is "false" She wrote to superiors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office that a felony conspiracy count was "the strongest charge,” the DOJ says. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/25/b...

NEW: A Chicago woman who left her dead mother’s body in a garage freezer for nearly two years has been charged with using her mom’s stolen identity to collect tens of thousands of dollars in Social Security checks and food program benefits. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/29/c...

Chicago woman who hid mom’s body in garage freezer charged with Social Security fraud

A Chicago woman who left her dead mother’s body in a freezer has been charged with using her mom’s stolen identity to collect tens of thousands of dollars in Social Security checks and food program be...

chicagotribune.com

Some Bears fans having fun on Case Keenum’s Wikipedia page right now. Who knew he owns the Eagles? 🐻