Tessera
Folgen

Heather Cherone

@heathercherone.bsky.social

Professionally disagreeable senior Chicago politics reporter for @wttw.bsky.social News

3774 Posts14738 Follower1094 Folgt
Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · yesterday

NEW: Attorneys for the city of Chicago are negotiating a “global settlement” to resolve 17 lawsuits naming eight members of a Chicago Police Department tactical team repeatedly accused of improperly stopping and searching Black men downtown, court records show. @wttw.bsky.social

City Lawyers Negotiating ‘Global Settlement’ of Lawsuits Naming CPD Officers Repeatedly Accused of Improper Traffic Stops

U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia Kendall signed an order on July 27 giving U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth Jantz the authority to craft a “global settlement” of 17 cases which accuse the officers of viol...

news.wttw.com

Jared Rutecki@jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 2d ago

There were 37 homicides in the city last month, the lowest total for any such month dating back to at least 1970. That total is down 18% compared to July 2025, and is less than half the totals of July 2020 and 2021, which each saw more than 100 killings.

Chicago Sees Lowest Homicide Total For Any July in Decades

There were 37 homicides in the city last month, the lowest total for any such month dating back to at least 1970. That total is down 18% compared to July 2025.

news.wttw.com

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · 2d ago

“I want to be part of the solution. Running for mayor is like interviewing for a job, a really hard job, and just like anything else, when you’re running for a job, you don’t quit the one you’re in while you’re interviewing for that one.” @wttw.bsky.social

Backed by Trade Unions, Alexi Giannoulias Launches Campaign for Chicago Mayor

Giannoulias, 50, who is running for a second term as secretary of state in November, will simultaneously enter the contest to be Chicago’s 58th mayor.

news.wttw.com

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · 3d ago

UPDATED STORY: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias launched a bid for Chicago mayor Sunday, joining the already large field of candidates eager to deny Mayor Brandon Johnson the second term he has yet to announce he will seek. @wttw.bsky.social

Backed by Trade Unions, Alexi Giannoulias Launches Campaign for Chicago Mayor

Giannoulias, 50, who is running for a second term as secretary of state in November, will simultaneously enter the contest to be Chicago’s 58th mayor.

news.wttw.com

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · 3d ago

FULL STORY: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias launched a bid for Chicago mayor Sunday, joining the already large field of candidates eager to deny Mayor Brandon Johnson the second term he has yet to announce he will seek. @wttw.bsky.social

Backed by Trade Unions, Alexi Giannoulias Launches Campaign for Chicago Mayor

Giannoulias, 50, who is running for a second term as secretary of state in November, will simultaneously enter the contest to be Chicago’s 58th mayor.

news.wttw.com

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · 5d ago

In 2025, CPD officers used the highest level of force against a member of the public 47 times, according to the report. Approximately 65% involved Black Chicagoans, records show. Less than 30% of the city’s population is Black.

WTTW - Chicago PBS@wttw.bsky.social · 5d ago

That 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. https://to.wttw.com/3Tzx7za

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · 5d ago

NEW: Chicago police leaders failed to publicly account for all of the times officers used force against members of the public in 2025, missing a deadline set by the federal court order requiring officers to stop routinely violating Black and Latino residents’ constitutional rights. @wttw.bsky.social

CPD Brass Missed Deadline to Detail How Many Times Officers Used Force Against Chicagoans in 2025: Records

That 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.com

Shannon Heffernan@shannonheffernan.bsky.social · 6d ago

Going on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight soon to discuss our investigation of fires at an Illinois prison. I’m a fan of the show and happy for the chance to share this information. www.themarshallproject.org/2026/07/24/p...

How An Illinois Prison Drove Desperate Men to Set Themselves on Fire

Designed to help people with serious mental illness, Joliet Treatment Center repeatedly failed to prevent or respond to fires, despite two deaths.

themarshallproject.org

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · 6d ago

"In Streeterville, a predominantly white neighborhood, CPD reported 19 stops per year per 1,000 residents. By contrast, in Auburn Gresham, a neighborhood that is 96% Black or Latino, CPD reported 193 traffic stops per 1,000 residents."

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · 6d ago

NEW: A federal judge expanded the lawsuit accusing 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, court records show. @wttw.bsky.social

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · 6d ago

NEW: A federal judge expanded the lawsuit accusing 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, court records show. @wttw.bsky.social

Judge Expands Lawsuit Accusing CPD of Targeting Black, Latino Chicagoans With Traffic Stops to Include All Black, Latino Drivers

Chicago 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.com

WTTW - Chicago PBS@wttw.bsky.social · 7d ago

Chicago 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. https://to.wttw.com/4x4I5es

Chicago Can’t Keep Trying to Poison Its Way Out of Rat Problem: Watchdog Report

Chicago 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.

to.wttw.com

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · last wk.

“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.”

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · last wk.

NEW: 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, according to an analysis by the city’s watchdog. @wttw.bsky.social

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · last wk.

“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. And I tried desperately to live in my values, even though it cost me politically. It did. It did cost me.” @wttw.bsky.social

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.com

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · last wk.

BREAKING: Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order Wednesday designed to ban purchases of guns and ammunition from firms that flout federal law and do not take steps to prevent weapons trafficking. @wttw.bsky.social

Mayor Johnson Signs Executive Order Designed to Ban Purchases From Gun Dealers That Flout Laws

Gun 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.com

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · last wk.

NEW: 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, according to an analysis by the city’s watchdog. @wttw.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.com

WTTW - Chicago PBS@wttw.bsky.social · last wk.

Inspector General David Glockner determined city officials “accurately and transparently” reported what it spent in city funds to feed, house and care for 46,282 people who arrived in Chicago, between August 2022 and December 2024, a new report finds. https://to.wttw.com/4wrLx2K

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...

to.wttw.com

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · last wk.

Summer may still be in full swing, but candidates hoping to qualify for the Feb. 23 contest that will determine who will serve as Chicago’s mayor and on the City Council can now start collecting signatures on nominating petitions — a month earlier than ever before. @wttw.bsky.social

Election 2027 Begins: Candidates for Chicago Mayor, City Council Are Gathering Signatures Earlier Than Ever

Candidates will hit the street to gather thousands of autographs from registered voters a month earlier than aspiring candidates did four years ago, the last time all 50 alderpeople, the mayor, city c...

news.wttw.com

Jared Rutecki@jaredrutecki.bsky.social · last wk.

New: Interim Chicago Police Supt. Fred Waller collects a $141,608 city-funded pension while earning more than $210,648 a year as a deputy director, for total annual taxpayer-funded compensation of $352,256, according to records obtained by WTTW News. (w/ @heathercherone.bsky.social)

Interim Top Cop Collecting $142K Annual City Pension While Earning $211K Salary, Records Show

Fred Waller is expected to serve as CPD’s interim superintendent through the end of the year, as the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability searches for a permanent leader.

news.wttw.com

Heather Cherone@heathercherone.bsky.social · last wk.

NEW: Interim CPD Supt. Fred Waller is collecting an annual taxpayer-funded pension of $142K while he has been earning more than $211K per year as a deputy director, bringing his total compensation to $352K, according to records obtained by me and @jaredrutecki.bsky.social for @wttw.bsky.social News.

Interim Top Cop Collecting $142K Annual City Pension While Earning $211K Salary, Records Show

Fred Waller is expected to serve as CPD’s interim superintendent through the end of the year, as the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability searches for a permanent leader.

news.wttw.com