The Tragedy of Lil Durk
The Englewood native rose to stardom rapping about the violence of the streets. Now he’s accused of conspiring to kill a rival.
All Stories
Blago's Last Stand
If the Supreme Court agrees this fall to hear the ex-governor’s final appeal, his lawyers feel they’ll have a strong case.
Blago: His Life in Prison
Five years ago, Rod Blagojevich kissed his wife and daughters goodbye, waved one last time to reporters, and flew to Colorado to start a 14-year sentence. In his first prison...
The Reckoning of Marc Winner
After 15 years, multiple alleged rapes, and a litany of indictments, a son of North Shore privilege may have to finally answer his accusers.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1966 Chicago Campaign
In August 1966, the Chicago Freedom Movement, Martin Luther King’s campaign to break the grip of segregation, reached its violent culmination. Fifty years on, the struggle continues.
Small Town, Big Secret?
Months after former House speaker Dennis Hastert was indicted for withdrawing millions in alleged hush money, the town at the center of the molestation accusations still struggles to understand what...
New Tricks
One year after we reported that the Chicago Police Department was undercounting the city’s murders, the problem persists—and top brass are up to some
Three More Curious Cases from 2013
In reporting our latest investigation into the Chicago Police Department's crime numbers, we found a few mysterious cases dating back to 2013.
There’s Going to Be a Hearing on Chicago’s Crime Stats
Months ago, the city council called for a hearing on the reliability of Chicago’s crime data. It’s going down tomorrow—with Superintendent Garry McCarthy presenting.
What the Investigation of Newark's Police Department Means for Garry McCarthy
The U.S. Justice Department found a pattern of unconstitutional policing in Newark, New Jersey—and some of it happened while Chicago's police superintendent was the top cop there.