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Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

@jaredrutecki.bsky.social

4K followers 1.8K following 3K posts

Investigative Reporter, WTTW News/Chicago Tonight. My past life: Illinois Answers Project, BGA, Columbus Dispatch, ThisWeek News. Covers cops, courts, energy, health, finance, pensions etc. Prolific FOIA filer. He/him.

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Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 17d

Chicago taxpayers paid $295M to settle lawsuits tied to 272 police officers with repeated misconduct claims from 2019–2024, my latest w/ @heathercherone.bsky.social shows.

New report, only at @wttw.bsky.social 👇

Repeated Police Misconduct by 272 Officers Has Cost Chicago Taxpayers $295M Since 2019: Analysis

Chicago taxpayers paid $295 million between 2019 and 2024 to resolve lawsuits naming officers whose alleged misconduct led more than once to payouts, according to an analysis of city data by WTTW News...

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

WTTW - Chicago PBS @wttw.bsky.social · 12h

The Department of Homeland Security is looking to purchase more buildings in Chicago to operate out of, Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday.

https://to.wttw.com/3ICDJrC

Homeland Security Plans to Purchase More Buildings in Chicago for ICE, Noem Says

The Department of Homeland Security is looking to purchase more buildings in Chicago to operate out of, Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday.

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 14h

Taxpayers should pay $7.5M to the family of a Chicago pastor and her husband, who were struck and killed by a driver being chased by Chicago police, city lawyers recommended, the latest massive settlement prompted by a police pursuit that violated department policy. (by @heathercherone.bsky.social)

Pay Family of Couple Killed by Driver Being Chased by Police $7.5M, City Lawyers Recommend

Nine cases alleging Chicagoans were hit or killed during a police chase that violated department policy cost taxpayers more than $75 million to resolve between Jan. 1 and July 31, according to WTTW Ne...

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 14h

NEW: Taxpayers should pay $950,000 to a former Chicago Police Department lieutenant who said his supervisors retaliated against him after he resisted orders to make “illegal” traffic stops, city lawyers recommended. @wttw.bsky.social

City Lawyers Recommend Paying $950K to CPD Lieutenant Who Blew Whistle on ‘Illegal’ Traffic Stops

Lt. Franklin Paz accused CPD officials of violating the state’s Whistleblower Act by reassigning him to the overnight shift in a South Side police district after he refused to order the officers he su...

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

Dan Mihalopoulos @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social · 21h

Booming business at Chicago Housing Authority — a total of almost $22M — for the boyfriend, sister and daughter of longtime CHA board member Debra Parker.

My new investigation for @wbez.org and @chicago.suntimes.com chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Chicago Housing Authority pays $22 million to companies tied to board member

The three vendors include longtime CHA Commissioner Debra Parker’s daughter, sister and boyfriend, shows a WBEZ investigation, but Parker says she hasn’t helped them.

chicago.suntimes.com

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 14h

US District Judge LaShonda Hunt approved a temporary restraining order that requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to take down the fence at their processing facility in Broadview after local officials argued it was constructed illegally and blocked access to village roads.

Federal Judge Orders ICE to Take Down ‘Illegal’ Fence at Broadview Facility

A federal judge has ordered U.S. immigration officials to remove an 8-foot fence around a suburban processing center after local officials said it endangered residents by preventing the fire departmen...

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

CNN @cnn.com · 15h

Breaking News
Firings of federal workers have begun as government shutdown drags on, White House budget chief announces. https://cnn.it/42AMXez

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 15h

Ever seen a tree that looks like its leaves have sprouted warts or are suffering from a really bad rash? How about a goldenrod plant that looks like it’s swallowed a golf ball?

Welcome to the wild, wonderful world of galls.

Has Your Tree Sprouted Warts? The Cause Is Absolutely Gall-ing

Ever seen a tree that looks like its leaves have sprouted warts or are suffering from a really bad rash? Welcome to the wild, wonderful world of plant oddities known as galls.

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 16h

Ever seen a tree that looks like its leaves have sprouted warts or are suffering from a really bad rash? How about a goldenrod plant that looks like it’s swallowed a golf ball?

Welcome to the wild, wonderful world of galls.

Has Your Tree Sprouted Warts? The Cause Is Absolutely Gall-ing

Ever seen a tree that looks like its leaves have sprouted warts or are suffering from a really bad rash? Welcome to the wild, wonderful world of plant oddities known as galls.

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 17h

The Department of Homeland Security is looking to purchase more buildings in Chicago to operate out of, Secretary Kristi Noem said.

Homeland Security Plans to Purchase More Buildings in Chicago for ICE, Noem Says

The Department of Homeland Security is looking to purchase more buildings in Chicago to operate out of, Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday.

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 18h

“This week alone, we’ve seen a doubling of the abortion cases that we usually receive from Wisconsin,” Planned Parenthood of Illinois CEO Adrienne White-Faines said. news.wttw.com/2025/10/09/p...

Planned Parenthood of Illinois CEO on the Future of Reproductive Care Amid Federal Threats

Illinois health care providers are bracing for more patients after Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin paused abortions last week. Local organizations like Planned Parenthood of Illinois have said they an...

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

Melissa Sanchez @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social · 21h

“I don’t want to be here anymore… What am I supposed to do?”

Trump wants them to self deport. They want to self deport. But many Venezuelans cannot leave … like this woman who told me she now plans to try to turn herself into ICE to get out of USA.

www.propublica.org/article/trum...

“I Don’t Want to Be Here Anymore”: They Tried to Self-Deport, Then Got Stranded in Trump’s America

Venezuelan immigrants signed up for a Trump-promoted app called CBP Home, which promised a safe and easy way to leave the country, and prepared to leave on their given departure dates. Those dates hav...

www.propublica.org

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 19h

A federal judge ruled ICE agents at the Broadview facility cannot use “riot control weapons” like tear gas, pepper spray or less lethal bullets against reporters, protesters and members of the clergy who aren’t posing an immediate threat to the safety of law enforcement.

Judge Temporarily Bars Feds From Using Tear Gas, Pepper Spray Against Reporters in Broadview

A federal judge ruled Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the Broadview facility cannot use “riot control weapons” like tear gas, pepper spray or rubber bullets against reporters, protesters...

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 1d

BREAKING: Sister Jean Dolores Bertha Schmidt, chaplain of the Loyola University Chicago men’s basketball team during its Cinderella run to the 2018 NCAA Final Four — has died.

Sister Jean, Loyola University hoops chaplain who captured nation's heart during Cinderella run, dies at 106

Sister Jean emanated a certain love and grit that sunk into students on and off the court — and made for great TV.

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

WTTW - Chicago PBS @wttw.bsky.social · 1d

A judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from deploying members of the National Guard to Illinois.

“I see no credible evidence there is a danger of rebellion in the state of Illinois,” U.S. District Court Judge April Perry said. https://to.wttw.com/4h4acno

Federal Judge Grants Partial Restraining Order Blocking National Guard Deployment in Chicago Area

A federal judge is set to decide Thursday whether to block President Donald Trump from deploying 200 members of the Texas National Guard alongside 300 members of the Illinois National Guard to the Chi...

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 1d

I am absolutely no arbiter on taste, but we can all agree that my neighbors aren’t cool for rocking the same Thompson Twins song on repeat, right?

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 1d

Perry scheduled the next hearing in the case for 9 a.m. Oct. 22, when she said she will consider extending it for an additional 14 days before the initial order expires at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 23.

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 1d

As we wait for Judge April Perry to rule, here's my full story from this morning's extraordinary hearing, for @wttw.bsky.social:

Federal Judge Appears Skeptical of Reasoning Behind National Guard Deployment in Illinois During Ongoing Hearing

Lawyers for the Department of Justice told U.S. District Court Judge April Perry the president deployed the National Guard because “levels of violence against federal law enforcement executing their l...

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: There are no plans to deploy National Guard troops to the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, a general tells U.S. District Court Judge April Perry.
@wttw.bsky.social

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 1d

National Guard troops who were sent to Illinois this week are expected to be assigned to protect Chicago’s federal courthouse, even as the chief judge said she never requested or approved their presence.

National Guard Troops Expected at Dirksen Courthouse Friday During ‘High Profile’ Federal Hearings

National Guard troops who were sent to Illinois this week are expected to be assigned to protect Chicago’s federal courthouse Friday, even as the chief judge said she never requested or approved their...

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 1d

Greetings from U.S. District Court Judge April Perry’s courtroom in the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is present, waiting for the high stakes hearing to begin. @wttw.bsky.social

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 1d

FULL STORY: As lawyers for the Trump administration defended the president’s unprecedented decision to send National Guard troops to Chicago despite the objections of Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson, officials acknowledged that California troops had also been sent to Illinois. @wttw.bsky.social

Judge to Decide Whether to Block National Guard Deployment as Trump Sends California Troops to Illinois

Lawyers for the Department of Justice told U.S. District Court Judge April Perry the president deployed the National Guard because “levels of violence against federal law enforcement executing their l...

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 1d

The book “Make It Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture With Virgil Abloh” chronicles how he was able to pull off the feat and how the industry revolutionized alongside his ascent. Street and hip-hop culture became legitimized in a once all-White space.

Robin Givhan Explores Life, Legacy of Fashion Icon Virgil Abloh in New Book

Virgil Abloh shifted the meaning of luxury and who gets to participate in it. The streetwear-loving son of Ghanaian immigrants had a meteoric rise in the fashion industry — aptly calling himself a fas...

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 1d

FULL STORY: As lawyers for the Trump administration defended the president’s unprecedented decision to send National Guard troops to Chicago despite the objections of Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson, officials acknowledged that California troops had also been sent to Illinois. @wttw.bsky.social

Judge to Decide Whether to Block National Guard Deployment as Trump Sends California Troops to Illinois

Lawyers for the Department of Justice told U.S. District Court Judge April Perry the president deployed the National Guard because “levels of violence against federal law enforcement executing their l...

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 1d

As state lawmakers head to Springfield next week to discuss a possible funding plan, some advocates are concerned Black communities on Chicago’s South and West sides are being ignored in decisions about transit reform. news.wttw.com/2025/10/08/a...

Advocates Say Black Communities Are Left Out of Regional Transit Reform Debate

Chicago-area public transit agencies are facing a fiscal cliff. The budget gap for CTA, Metra and Pace is at $200 million, according to the Regional Transportation Authority.

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 1d

Cook County will not need to hike property taxes or impose new fees to close a projected budget gap of $211.4 million in 2026, but “turmoil” looms in the years ahead, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said.

No Property Tax Hike Needed to Close Cook County’s $211.4M Budget Gap, But ‘Turmoil’ Looms: Preckwinkle

“We’re headed into pretty tough waters here, turmoil,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said. “And I would anticipate … next year, and particularly the years after next, we’re going to be ...

Reposted by Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃

Jennifer Smith Richards @jsmithrichards.bsky.social · 2d

To understand the Trump administration’s vision for American education, @megomatz.bsky.social and I studied dozens of hours of political appointees’ speeches and podcasts and essays. What emerged is a desire to dismantle the nation’s system of public schools.

These Activists Want to Dismantle Public Schools. Now They Run the Education Department.

Under Trump, the Department of Education has been bringing in activists hostile to public schools. It could mean a new era of private and religious schools boosted by tax dollars — and the end of publ...

www.propublica.org

Scared Bootecki (but really Jared Rutecki) 🎃 @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 1d

As federal immigration enforcement operations spread “fear and anxiety” among many Chicago Public Schools families, district leaders say they’ve launched a command center to stay on top of emergency situations and provide help to concerned school leaders.

Chicago Public Schools Sets Up District Command Center in Response to ‘Fear and Anxiety’ From ICE Operations

Interim CPS CEO Macquline King on Wednesday said the district command center in order to provide “round-the-clock support” to school communities experiencing “heightened stress due to activity outside...