Chicago Police Officer ‘Inadvertently’ Fired Taser a Year Before Fatally Shooting His Partner
Officials have said Officer Carlos Baker unintentionally shot and killed Officer Krystal Rivera during a chase last June. He previously reported that he mistakenly discharged his Taser after a high-speed chase that ended in a seven-vehicle crash but didn’t immediately notify dispatchers.
Making It In chicago
‘Most Drivers Aren’t Making Money:’ App-Based Gig Work Promised Freedom and Flexibility. Workers Feel Exploited and Unsafe.
As the app-based informal economy grows, its many low-wage workers are demanding the same protections and benefits that many other full and part time…
‘Granny flats’ are illegal to build in most of Chicago —and political gridlock is keeping it that way.
A three-year pilot program that legalized accessory dwelling units or “granny flats” in some areas of the city opened up more housing options in…
Unsettling Accounts: How Illinois is Confronting the Student Loan Crisis
Illinois has one of the highest rates of student loans in the country, compelling the state to intervene so that residents burdened by debt…
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Search warrant reveals FBI is investigating former Carlyle police chief
Article Summary This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. CARLYLE — A search warrant executed by the FBI revealed the target of a criminal probe was then Carlyle Police Chief Mark Pingsterhaus, who leased office space in the police station to a federal task force that battles public…
‘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.
more from Illinois answers
How Much Public and Private Money Is Powering Chicago’s Quantum Push?
Editor’s Note: We published a story last year examining the massive public investment aimed at developing the quantum industry in South Chicago. This week, we begin a three-part explainer series…
Chicago Police Brass Had Rejected Troubled Cop’s Move to Elite Unit Before He Fatally Shot Partner
Chief of Patrol Jon Hein approved Officer Carlos Baker’s transfer despite having denied his request for the move less than a year earlier because of “discipline’ problems.
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Investigating Responses
Illinois’ Low-Cost Library Program Takes on the Justice Gap
A pilot program in 18 libraries across nine counties trains staff to help residents navigate civil court proceedings, offering a lifeline in communities where legal aid and public transit are scarce.
Illinois Is Turning to Local Jails to Treat Mentally Ill Defendants. Some Early Results Offer Hope — and Warnings
It’s not often that Menard County Jail has a detainee who has been found unfit for trial. The jail, just north of Springfield, is small. With a census that can hover around 10 people or less, and just a few correctional staff on a given shift, mental health care is limited. In 2024, the man…
Investigations
A Once Dying Mall in Southern Illinois is Getting a Mighty Makeover, Thanks to $112M Bond Deal, But The Project Has Hit a Speed Bump
Officials in Marion say the massive redevelopment is on track, but one of the three main developers has already dropped out, facing a slew of lawsuits.
‘Where is Justice for Krystal?’ Mom of Cop Asks After Suing Chicago Police Department, Partner Who Shot Her
The lawsuit filed by Officer Krystal Rivera’s family says Officer Carlos Baker failed to call for an ambulance after he shot her in the back during a chase and then engaged in a “cover-up.”
Special Projects
Making it in Chicago: Detours and Dead Ends on the Path to Opportunity
The path to upward mobility is paved by affordable and quality education, housing, health care, as well as safe neighborhoods and good-paying jobs… things increasingly out of reach for many Chicagoans. Some city, state and community -led efforts could be part of a roadmap to economic opportunity.
Series – Strapped Down: Restraint Chairs in Illinois Jails
The Illinois Answers Project found jail staff are restraining people in chairs in ways that often violate policies and last longer than recommended by manufacturers.
Series – Underwater in Illinois: Responses to Flooding
The Illinois Answers Project explores how prepared Chicago and the state are to combat the growing environmental threats its residents face, particularly from the problem of severe flooding.
