Blair Paddock
@blairpaddock.bsky.social
prisons + investigations for @wttw.bsky.social
Pinned
Blair Paddock
@blairpaddock.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Mouse Arts and Letters Club
mouseartsandletters.org
In January, my partner, friends and I will be opening up a cultural club in an old bank in Bridgeport: the Mouse Arts and Letters Club. We'll host News Night, a citywide newsroom, screenings, translation + ecology events & more. We'd love you to join us. Sign up for updates: mouseartsandletters.org
Reposted by Blair Paddock
The number of children in ICE detention on an average day has skyrocketed 6x since Trump took an office. Families complain of poor medical care and worm-infested food.
"It’s only a matter of time before we see a child die," one advocate said.
www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/29/i...
"It’s only a matter of time before we see a child die," one advocate said.
www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/29/i...
Children in ICE Detention Skyrocket in Trump’s Second Term
With a six-fold jump in children in detention, advocates allege harrowing conditions are putting kids’ lives at risk.
www.themarshallproject.org
January 29, 2026 at 9:20 PM
The number of children in ICE detention on an average day has skyrocketed 6x since Trump took an office. Families complain of poor medical care and worm-infested food.
"It’s only a matter of time before we see a child die," one advocate said.
www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/29/i...
"It’s only a matter of time before we see a child die," one advocate said.
www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/29/i...
NEW: After a year hiatus, the Cook County State’s Attorney reverses course and has restarted diverting nonviolent gun cases to restorative justice courts news.wttw.com/2026/01/28/c...
Cook County State’s Attorney Reverses Course, Diverts Nonviolent Gun Cases to Restorative Justice Courts
The county’s Restorative Justice Community Courts reroute young people with nonviolent charges from criminal courts to an alternative program. Upon completion, the charge is dismissed.
news.wttw.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:39 PM
NEW: After a year hiatus, the Cook County State’s Attorney reverses course and has restarted diverting nonviolent gun cases to restorative justice courts news.wttw.com/2026/01/28/c...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
the "medieval people didn't know how to draw animals" crowd has been real quiet ever since john siferwas dropped the Perfect Woodcock
January 26, 2026 at 3:53 PM
the "medieval people didn't know how to draw animals" crowd has been real quiet ever since john siferwas dropped the Perfect Woodcock
Reposted by Blair Paddock
The 5-year-old arrested by ICE In Minnesota is detained at Dilley. We reported on conditions there in the below article.
Parents said the food was contaminated with mold and worms & that children were so under so much stress that they were hitting their own faces & wetting themselves.
Parents said the food was contaminated with mold and worms & that children were so under so much stress that they were hitting their own faces & wetting themselves.
Analysis by The Marshall Project of ICE data obtained by the Deportation Data Project found that the Trump administration’s revival of family detention has swept thousands of children into ICE custody. At least 3,800 children under 18, including 20 infants, have been booked since Trump took office.
ICE Threw Thousands of Kids in Detention, Many For Longer Than Court-Prescribed Limit
Former immigration staffers argue ICE is choosing to detain families for prolonged periods to speed deportations and compel them to leave.
www.themarshallproject.org
January 22, 2026 at 8:30 PM
The 5-year-old arrested by ICE In Minnesota is detained at Dilley. We reported on conditions there in the below article.
Parents said the food was contaminated with mold and worms & that children were so under so much stress that they were hitting their own faces & wetting themselves.
Parents said the food was contaminated with mold and worms & that children were so under so much stress that they were hitting their own faces & wetting themselves.
Reposted by Blair Paddock
had no idea illinois was a major oil producer through the second world war
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/i...
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/i...
At one time, Illinois was a top oil producer. Today, that legacy is a $160M problem.
Abandoned oil and gas wells pose environmental and public health risks. For three decades, the state has mismanaged funds earmarked for minimizing the threat.
www.chicagotribune.com
January 18, 2026 at 7:11 PM
had no idea illinois was a major oil producer through the second world war
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/i...
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/i...
Join us today as we open Mouse! :-) blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/16/m...
Mouse Arts And Letters, A New Bridgeport Social Club, Brings Artists And Writers Together
Located in an old bank building, the arts social club will serve as a co-working space and host a variety of free events revolving around arts, literature, history and politics.
blockclubchicago.org
January 16, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Join us today as we open Mouse! :-) blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/16/m...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
SCOOP from Douglas Macmillan
Medical examiner believes death of man in ICE custody was homicide, recording says
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Medical examiner believes death of man in ICE custody was homicide, recording says
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Medical examiner believes death of man in ICE custody was homicide, recording says
A fellow detainee says he witnessed Geraldo Lunas Campos being choked to death by guards at the ICE detention center in Texas on Jan. 3.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:46 PM
SCOOP from Douglas Macmillan
Medical examiner believes death of man in ICE custody was homicide, recording says
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Medical examiner believes death of man in ICE custody was homicide, recording says
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
Reposted by Blair Paddock
Looking forward to this conversation with @aliceyin.bsky.social and @ctoner.bsky.social and people interested in Chicago journalism on Friday night!
January 13, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Looking forward to this conversation with @aliceyin.bsky.social and @ctoner.bsky.social and people interested in Chicago journalism on Friday night!
I spoke with the folks at Pushing Envelopes Chicago, who sends letters to a network of 600 incarcerated people each week, to hear their reaction to IL prisons now digitizing all physical mail: news.wttw.com/2026/01/13/g...
Group That Sends People in Prisons Supportive Cards and Letters Adjusts to Illinois’ New Mail Rules
Since 2013, the prison abolition collective has processed mail from largely LGBTQ people incarcerated in Illinois. How those materials are delivered has recently changed.
news.wttw.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:23 PM
I spoke with the folks at Pushing Envelopes Chicago, who sends letters to a network of 600 incarcerated people each week, to hear their reaction to IL prisons now digitizing all physical mail: news.wttw.com/2026/01/13/g...
Updated with a note from the Kane County Sheriff:
January 9, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Updated with a note from the Kane County Sheriff:
Reposted by Blair Paddock
Four Illinois sheriff’s offices defied the state’s sanctuary laws and transferred individuals into Department of Homeland Security custody in 2024, according to a new report. (via @blairpaddock.bsky.social)
Four Illinois Sheriff’s Offices Ignored Sanctuary Laws by Transferring People Into Federal Custody, AG Report Finds
Four Illinois sheriff’s offices defied the state’s sanctuary laws and transferred individuals into Department of Homeland Security custody in 2024, according to a new report.
news.wttw.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Four Illinois sheriff’s offices defied the state’s sanctuary laws and transferred individuals into Department of Homeland Security custody in 2024, according to a new report. (via @blairpaddock.bsky.social)
NEW: Four Illinois sheriff's offices defied state sanctuary law by transferring people into DHS custody in 2024. That, according to a report released from the IL AG on Dec 23. news.wttw.com/2026/01/08/f...
Four Illinois Sheriff’s Offices Ignored Sanctuary Laws by Transferring People Into Federal Custody, AG Report Finds
Four Illinois sheriff’s offices defied the state’s sanctuary laws and transferred individuals into Department of Homeland Security custody in 2024, according to a new report.
news.wttw.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:56 PM
NEW: Four Illinois sheriff's offices defied state sanctuary law by transferring people into DHS custody in 2024. That, according to a report released from the IL AG on Dec 23. news.wttw.com/2026/01/08/f...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
New Interview: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
January 3, 2026 at 9:42 PM
New Interview: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
NEW: beginning january 1, chicago will ban unhoused people on the sex offense registry from seeking shelter on public transit.
it’s the latest in a concerted effort by mayor johnson’s admin to criminalize homelessness on cta trains + buses and in public parks during the coldest months of the year.
it’s the latest in a concerted effort by mayor johnson’s admin to criminalize homelessness on cta trains + buses and in public parks during the coldest months of the year.
‘An impossible situation’ - Chicago Reader
Beginning January 1, the City of Chicago will ban unhoused people on the sex offense registry from seeking shelter on public transit.
chicagoreader.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:20 PM
NEW: beginning january 1, chicago will ban unhoused people on the sex offense registry from seeking shelter on public transit.
it’s the latest in a concerted effort by mayor johnson’s admin to criminalize homelessness on cta trains + buses and in public parks during the coldest months of the year.
it’s the latest in a concerted effort by mayor johnson’s admin to criminalize homelessness on cta trains + buses and in public parks during the coldest months of the year.
Reposted by Blair Paddock
State regulators cited Roseland Community Hospital with an “immediate jeopardy” warning after a suicidal patient left the ER without supervision. His case is part of a troubling pattern tied to deaths and neglect. Investigation by @ndblumberg.bsky.social.
news.wttw.com/2025/12/16/r...
news.wttw.com/2025/12/16/r...
Roseland Hospital Failed to Monitor a Patient During a Mental Health Crisis, Regulators Say. Now He’s Charged With Killing His Wife
Since 2023, Roseland Community Hospital has received at least four immediate jeopardy citations. That warning is the most serious deficiency a health care facility can be cited for, according to feder...
news.wttw.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:01 PM
State regulators cited Roseland Community Hospital with an “immediate jeopardy” warning after a suicidal patient left the ER without supervision. His case is part of a troubling pattern tied to deaths and neglect. Investigation by @ndblumberg.bsky.social.
news.wttw.com/2025/12/16/r...
news.wttw.com/2025/12/16/r...
For Those Interested in Sandhill Crane Migration at the Jasper-Pulaski Stopover Point in Indiana: the numbers are much lower compared to last year. Note the gap between Dec. 9 2025 from years prior.
December 15, 2025 at 10:06 PM
For Those Interested in Sandhill Crane Migration at the Jasper-Pulaski Stopover Point in Indiana: the numbers are much lower compared to last year. Note the gap between Dec. 9 2025 from years prior.
When Illinois closed its prison in Dwight more than a decade ago, the transfer to Logan CC left incarcerated women traumatized.
Now, as the state pitches to close Logan, the largest women’s prison in IL, advocates want to ensure that history is not repeated. news.wttw.com/2025/12/09/a...
Now, as the state pitches to close Logan, the largest women’s prison in IL, advocates want to ensure that history is not repeated. news.wttw.com/2025/12/09/a...
Advocates Ask Pritzker, IDOC to Endorse Transfer Plan for Women at Logan Prison
In March 2024, Gov. JB Pritzker announced the closure and rebuild of both Stateville and Logan correctional centers, allocating $900 million for the projects. The decision came after a state-commissio...
news.wttw.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:33 PM
When Illinois closed its prison in Dwight more than a decade ago, the transfer to Logan CC left incarcerated women traumatized.
Now, as the state pitches to close Logan, the largest women’s prison in IL, advocates want to ensure that history is not repeated. news.wttw.com/2025/12/09/a...
Now, as the state pitches to close Logan, the largest women’s prison in IL, advocates want to ensure that history is not repeated. news.wttw.com/2025/12/09/a...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
2017: Officer shoots teen in the back of their shoulder
June 2021: Shooting ruled unjustified
Sept. 2021: Top cop disagrees
Nov. 2021: Police Board president orders full hearing
2019-24: 4 lawsuits naming officer settled for $590K
June 2025: Officer promoted to sergeant
Nov. 2025: Charges dropped
June 2021: Shooting ruled unjustified
Sept. 2021: Top cop disagrees
Nov. 2021: Police Board president orders full hearing
2019-24: 4 lawsuits naming officer settled for $590K
June 2025: Officer promoted to sergeant
Nov. 2025: Charges dropped
The Chicago police officer who shot a 16-year-old in September 2017 in what investigators ruled was an unjustified use of deadly force will not be fired, according to documents obtained by WTTW News. https://to.wttw.com/48nbt6g
CPD Officer Who Shot Teen in 2017 Won’t Be Fired — But Was Promoted After Costing Taxpayers $590K
Since the shooting, Chicago taxpayers have paid $591,500 to resolve four lawsuits that allege the officer, who was promoted in June 2025, violated the rights of other Chicagoans, according to an analy...
to.wttw.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
2017: Officer shoots teen in the back of their shoulder
June 2021: Shooting ruled unjustified
Sept. 2021: Top cop disagrees
Nov. 2021: Police Board president orders full hearing
2019-24: 4 lawsuits naming officer settled for $590K
June 2025: Officer promoted to sergeant
Nov. 2025: Charges dropped
June 2021: Shooting ruled unjustified
Sept. 2021: Top cop disagrees
Nov. 2021: Police Board president orders full hearing
2019-24: 4 lawsuits naming officer settled for $590K
June 2025: Officer promoted to sergeant
Nov. 2025: Charges dropped
Want to help us build a new cultural club in Chicago? Consider being a member here: mouseartsandletters.org/membership-1
December 2, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Want to help us build a new cultural club in Chicago? Consider being a member here: mouseartsandletters.org/membership-1
Reposted by Blair Paddock
A Mauritanian man will testify Monday about torture he says he endured at Guantánamo Bay—at the hands of former Chicago detective Richard Zuley.
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
Man Who Said He Was Tortured by Ex-CPD Detective at Guantanamo Bay Set to Testify
Circuit Court Judge Adrienne Davis is weighing whether to overturn the conviction of Anthony Garrett in connection with the murder of 7-year-old Dantrell Davis, who was shot and killed by a sniper at ...
news.wttw.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
A Mauritanian man will testify Monday about torture he says he endured at Guantánamo Bay—at the hands of former Chicago detective Richard Zuley.
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
NEW: The exodus of corrections officers from federal prisons to ICE comes amid shortages of critical supplies, from food to personal hygiene items, for both staff and inmates.
It threatens to make the already grim conditions in these prisons even worse.
It threatens to make the already grim conditions in these prisons even worse.
As Federal Prisons Run Low on Food and Toilet Paper, Corrections Officers Leave in Droves for ICE
Many of the problems the agency is facing now are not new, but staff and prisoners fear an exodus of officers could make life behind bars even worse.
www.propublica.org
November 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM
NEW: The exodus of corrections officers from federal prisons to ICE comes amid shortages of critical supplies, from food to personal hygiene items, for both staff and inmates.
It threatens to make the already grim conditions in these prisons even worse.
It threatens to make the already grim conditions in these prisons even worse.