Court battles hit taxpayer wallets The costs of Chicago police misconduct have grown enormous as the city settles lawsuit after lawsuit using expensive private counsel to handle most of the work.

Follows on this story about how Chicago's legal strategy on fighting civil rights lawsuits is increasing the cost to taxpayers: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/29/c...

Our latest:

Josefina Aguilar, Who Depicted Mexican Life in Clay, Dies at 80

I'm sad to see this... I was fortunate to meet the Aguilar sisters at their studios in the state of Oaxaca back in 2003. A piece by Josefina's sister Concepcion, a sad devil, is one of my prized possessions. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/a...

Court battles hit taxpayer wallets The costs of Chicago police misconduct have grown enormous as the city settles lawsuit after lawsuit using expensive private counsel to handle most of the work.

Court battles hit taxpayer wallets. Chicago’s legal strategy on reversed-conviction suits — private attorneys, drawn-out fights — adds millions to costs. Reporting from @joemahr.bsky.social @jmetr22b.bsky.social dream team www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/29/c...

Court battles hit taxpayer wallets The costs of Chicago police misconduct have grown enormous as the city settles lawsuit after lawsuit using expensive private counsel to handle most of the work.

Over 10 years, Chicago has more than doubled how much it’s paying outside lawyers on reversed-conviction cases to more than $20 million a year.
The city argues it’s protecting taxpayers.
Is it working?
@joemahr.bsky.social and I take a look at the receipts:
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/29/c...

When our federal courts reporter (@jmetr22b.bsky.social) joins forces with an investigative reporter with a nose for data (@joemahr.bsky.social) you get:

Judicial election results: Three appointed judges rejected by voters in Cook County judicial primaries Voters had no choice in more than half the races, which were uncontested. Several candidates won despite negative ratings from local bar groups.

In case you missed it: Here are the Cook County judicial election results (so far). Official results will be declared by April 7.

In my day the kids filled buckets with Everclear and Kool-Aid and called it the Purple Jesus

What is a BORG? Chicago police confiscate gallon jugs at St. Patrick’s Day river dyeing. “Blackout rage gallons” are alcoholic mixtures usually contained in a plastic gallon jug. Chicagoans joked online about their demise.

Resistance is futile (and I can't believe it's been more than 30 years since Star Trek: Next Generation) www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/16/c...

Tiny Warty Frogfish Was Surprise Birth at Shedd, Is First-Ever Raised in Aquarium “This little fish is truly one in a million,” said Jenny Richards, senior aquarist at Shedd Aquarium.

The news I needed today: news.wttw.com/2026/03/10/t...

Oh, Ignatz

Ohhh I am not going to be happy if they eff around with the Chicago Stock Exchange room, one of the best things to see at the Art Institute of Chicago - in part as a living testament to the need for historical preservation rules

Congratulations to The Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune, winners of the 2026 Toner Prizes for Excellence in Political Reporting! The prizes are awarded by the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. #TonerPrizes #journalism (1/2)

Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon and Chicago-based presidential candidate, dies at 84 Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, the Chicago-based Baptist minister, political figure and two-time presidential candidate, has died.

RIP Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon and Chicago-based presidential candidate. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/17/r...

The Chicago Municipal Device is the city symbol few Chicagoans know about The backstory of Chicago’s century-old symbol — a “Y” inside a circle — that can be found dotted throughout the city.

This is relevant to your interests @brianboyer.net www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/c...

Chicago Tribune names newsroom veteran as new managing editor The Chicago Tribune named newsroom veteran Stacy St. Clair as the newspaper’s new managing editor Friday.

Chicago Tribune names [awesome journalist and loyal friend] as new managing editor www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/t...

Chicago hospitals funnel patients into long-lasting guardianships, angering friends and family Chicago-area hospitals recently initiated hundreds of guardianship petitions in just 18 months, a Chicago Tribune investigation has found.

"You're going to wish that doesn't happen to you' www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/23/g...

Finalists for the Chicago Headline Club’s first A-Mark Prize for Investigative Editing and Reporting, Watchdog Award - Chicago Headline Club Winners will be announced on Saturday, March 21 at FOIA Fest The Chicago Headline Club is thrilled to announce the finalists for its inaugural A-Mark Prize for Investigative Editing and Reporting and ...

Proud to say our @chicagotribune.com investigation on hospitals funneling patients into guardianships is a finalist for both the Watchdog Award and the A-Mark Prize. The paper's staff is also a finalist for reporting on the year's biggest news, Midwest Blitz. headlineclub.org/2026/02/04/f...

He Was Laid Off at The Washington Post After Working There 60 Years

I sadly enjoyed the little tribute to the CrissCross directory in this story about a Washington Post veteran laid off yesterday. IYKYK. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...

What does Spelling Bee have against the anhinga? 🤨

Judge overturns conviction in 2002 murder, orders release of Antonio Porter A Cook County judge vacated Antonio Porter’s conviction and ordered a new trial, based in part on a police officer’s history.

NEWS: In 2003, Antonio Porter was convicted of murder despite all witnesses testifying that he wasn’t the guy. After 23 years, he has been ordered freed pending a new trial. Here’s our story @chicagotribune.com
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/26/a...

Chicago Tribune investigation into hospitals’ use of guardianship system inspires new bill A Chicago Tribune investigation exposing some hospitals’ questionable use of the state’s guardianship system has inspired new legislation.

A Chicago Tribune investigation exposing some hospitals’ questionable use of the state’s guardianship system has inspired new legislation.

Aldrich Ames, C.I.A. Turncoat Who Helped the Soviets, Dies at 84

I love a scathing obituary: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/o...

Rioters? Agitators? Immigration agents’ claims against US citizens mostly fall apart in court. Time and again, Donald Trump’s immigration agents claimed horrific crimes at the hands of protesters in Chicago. Those allegations of abuse did not withstand the scrutiny of judicial review.

This is such an important story - and reminder that claims made by Homeland Security officials often fall apart under scrutiny of courts.

It's also a black eye for the Justice Dept which used to have an excellent record of being able prove the cases they file. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/30/c...

64 days in Chicago: The story of Operation Midway Blitz President Donald Trump’s federal immigration enforcement operation led to most surreal autumn in Chicago history. What happened during those 64 days will be remembered for a long time.

Chicago resisted. Protests came with a price. Bruises from pepper balls and fits of sickness from the tear gas. But also the shattering of illusions and loss of faith that what they witnessed could not happen in America. It did and is happening in America www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/c...

When hospitals choose private guardians, patients pay the price When Chicago hospitals seek guardians for patients with assets, a law firm and a private care management organization get nearly all the business.

'Out of money in no time' www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/30/h...

When hospitals choose private guardians, patients pay the price When Chicago hospitals seek guardians for patients with assets, a law firm and a private care management organization get nearly all the business.

When Midwest Care Management was appointed as Anna Vargas’ temporary guardian in February 2023, she had a house and about $122,000 in the bank, records show.

By August of this year she had less than $14,000 left.

Our latest investigation, part 2:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/30/h...

When hospitals choose private guardians, patients pay the price When Chicago hospitals seek guardians for patients with assets, a law firm and a private care management organization get nearly all the business.

In our review of more than 360 Chicago-area hospital guardianship petitions, the Tribune found that when patients have assets, one law firm and one private care management organization get nearly all the business.

When hospitals choose private guardians, patients pay the price When Chicago hospitals seek guardians for patients with assets, a law firm and a private care management organization get nearly all the business.

‘Out of money in no time’: When hospitals choose private guardians, patients pay the price

Eva Gurtovaia pauses while talking about her husband, Enes Abak, at their home in the Uptown neighborhood Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in Chicago. Gurtovaia, a former Russian citizen of Belarusian and Ukrainian descent, attended her U.S. citizenship ceremony on Nov. 26, the day after Abak, a Turkish citizen of Kurdish descent, was taken away by federal immigration agents while leaving for work. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Story about woman who became U.S. citizen, one day after her husband was taken by federal immigration agents outside their home:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/28/i...