Chicago's NPR News Source

Matthew Hendrickson

Staff Reporter News
Judge Charles Beach in the lobby of the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.
Criminal Justice
Illinois ended cash bail more than 6 months ago. Data shows early signs of success
By Matthew Hendrickson
 
Slain Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca’s brother Emiliano and mother Ethel at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse with Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara.
Criminal Justice
Days of surveillance video used to build case against man charged with killing Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca
By Matthew Hendrickson  and David Struett
 
Family members console one another Sunday near the scene of Saturday’s mass shooting that killed 9-year-old Ariana Molina.
9-year-old girl killed in Back of the Yards mass shooting was ‘the princess of the family’
By Matthew Hendrickson  and Kaitlin Washburn
 
Eileen O'Neill Burke in white blouse waving hand
Politics
Eileen O’Neill Burke declares victory in the Democratic state’s attorney primary
By Matthew Hendrickson  and Mitchell Armentrout
 
Man and woman side by side photo
Politics
Mail ballots trickling in cut Eileen O’Neill Burke’s lead over Clayton Harris in Cook County state’s attorney race
By Matthew Hendrickson
 
Kim Foxx
Criminal Justice
Legacy lap: Kim Foxx reflects on growing up in Cabrini, leading ‘difficult conversations’ with no ‘simple answers’
By Sophie Sherry  and Matthew Hendrickson
 
Eileen O'Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III
Politics
O’Neill Burke maintains close lead in heated race for Cook County state’s attorney
By Matthew Hendrickson
 
Elizabeth French, mother of Chicago Police Officer Ella French, walks and holds hands with Ella’s police partner Carlos Yanez
Criminal Justice
Jury takes just hours to convict man of killing Chicago Police Officer Ella French
By Emmanuel Camarillo  and Matthew Hendrickson
 
close-up shot of ShotSpotter at intersection
Criminal Justice
Top prosecutor says ShotSpotter has little impact on gun violence cases as mayor faces pressure to renew contract
By Matthew Hendrickson  and Tom Schuba
 
Robert Bevis, owner of Law Weapons and Supply in Naperville, is holding an AR15 rifle.
Politics
Most owners of assault-style weapons in Illinois appear not to have registered them as required by law
By Matthew Hendrickson
 
Photo illustration of someone about to send $1000 to via the Venmo app, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.
Criminal Justice
‘Bank jackings’ in Chicago see robbers drain victims’ accounts with their phone apps
By Frank Main , Matthew Hendrickson , and 1 more
 
Vic Mensa singing into microphone
Arts & Culture
Justice reform groups partner with Vic Mensa’s pot company to provide care packages to people released from jail
By Matthew Hendrickson
 
Judge Mary Marubio, the presiding judge of the Pretrial Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, sits in her courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.
Criminal Justice
Cook County judges talk about their first week without cash bail. ‘The world is looking at us.’
By Matthew Hendrickson
 
People walk in and out of the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse on the Southwest Side, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023.
Criminal Justice
Bail reform gets its first test Monday, and Cook County sees a smooth rollout
By Tom Schuba  and Matthew Hendrickson
 
Briana Payton, senior policy analyst at Chicago Appleseed, speaks during a press conference at Daley Plaza in the Loop, where the Coalition to End Money Bond and their supporters rejected the use of pretrial electronic monitoring last week.
Criminal Justice
Illinois becomes first state in nation today to eliminate cash bail. Here’s how it will work.
By Matthew Hendrickson
 
Pair of hands emerge from a prison cell
Criminal Justice
Courts will be ready when Illinois ends cash bail Monday, Chicago-area officials say
By Matthew Hendrickson
 
Assault weapons and hand guns are seen for sale at Capitol City Arms Supply in Springfield, Ill.
Criminal Justice
Illinois Supreme Court upholds state’s semiautomatic weapons ban Friday
By Matthew Hendrickson
 
The George Leighton Criminal Courthouse at 2650 S. California Ave. in Little Village, pictured in May 2022.
Criminal Justice
Illinois set to become first state in nation to eliminate cash bail after state Supreme Court rules it does not violate constitution
By Matthew Hendrickson