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Chicago cop who fatally shot partner Krystal Rivera is stripped of his police powers — but not for that

Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · 2d

After the alleged punch, the officer who killed his partner was stripped of his police powers chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

The move comes days after the Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois Answers Project reported that Officer Carlos Baker was accused of attacking a female police officer at a Wicker Park bar last weekend.

Chicago cop who fatally shot partner Krystal Rivera accused of attacking female officer

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Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · 2d

Then we wrote a few stories about the Chicago police officer who fatally shot his partner, whose name was on the paperwork for the stolen Glock, allegedly punching a female cop at a bar chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Officer Carlos Baker and a woman allegedly beat the other cop late Sunday at a Wicker Park bar after pushing her to delete videos taken on her cellphone, the Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois Answers Pro...

Family of Officer Krystal Rivera, shot in back by a fellow Chicago cop, wants an independent investigation

Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · 2d

chicago.suntimes.com/2025/07/02/f... Since we published, the family of the Chicago police officer whose name was on the paperwork for the Glock and was subsequently killed by her partner, who had a lengthy disciplinary history, called for an independent investigation

The family is asking the Illinois State Police to take over the investigation as their attorney says the Chicago Police Department’s story of what happened doesn’t “pass the smell test.”

Woman Shot With Glock Stolen From a Chicago Police Station Sues City, Says Cops Pilfered It

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Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · 2d

A woman who was shot in the leg with the stolen Glock before it returned to CPD custody filed a lawsuit, claiming a cop stole it illinoisanswers.org/2025/07/30/w...

The handgun was stolen from a room full of cops and ended up being used in crimes including the shooting of Twanda Willingham, who's suing.

Chicago cop who inadvertently shot and killed his partner has a lengthy disciplinary record in a short career

Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · 2d

Later we wrote about the stolen Glock's connection to the first fatal shooting of a police officer by another police officer in Chicago in nearly 40 years. And the shooter's long disciplinary history in a short time on the force chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Officer Carlos A. Baker has had more than a dozen complaints against him, records show.

Chicago Cops Did Little to Investigate How a Gun a Judge Turned in to be Destroyed Ended up at a Crime Scene

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Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · 2d

The genesis for the story: a look into CPD's whitewash of an investigation into how a judge's gun went from a police buyback to the scene of a fatal police shooting in Cicero illinoisanswers.org/2025/04/04/j...

The revolver Cook County Judge William Stewart Boyd turned in at a CPD gun buyback resurfaced at a fatal police shooting in Cicero in 2012.

Gun stolen from a roomful of Chicago cops ended up being used in a series of shootings

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Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · 2d

Our follow up about the Glock stolen from a room full of cops being used in a series of shootings chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Records obtained by the Illinois Answers Project and the Sun-Times found the Glock handgun should have been destroyed after it was turned in to police at a buyback at St. Sabina Church.

‘Where is the Glock?’ Gun turned over to Chicago police wound up in the hands of a teenager

Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · 2d

chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog... ICYMI

The Chicago Police Department has used gun buybacks to get thousands of guns off the street, but at least two of them have resurfaced at crime scenes.

Say More with Mary Dixon & Patrick Smith

Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · 2d

Her team did "The Twitter Files" 👎. My team did "'Where is the Glock?' Gun Turned Over to Chicago Police Wound up in the Hands of a Teenager" 👍. Put me in charge of CBS News, I will do a good job

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Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · 13d

What an awful time for the Internet.

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Reposted by Casey Toner

Block Club Chicago @blockclubchi.bsky.social · 16d

A mural that can be seen on the Kennedy has been blasted as "AI slop" by local artists and commuters. blockclubchi.co/428g9tg

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Reposted by Casey Toner

Dan Mihalopoulos @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social · 23d

Two absolute pros and outstanding people behind the mics for this new show on @wbez.org www.wbez.org/say-more-wit...

Hear what Chicago’s talking about — and chime in on topics that matter to you — from tariffs to construction, the Bears to “The Bear.” Weekday mornings at 10am

www.wbez.org

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Reposted by Casey Toner

Defector @defector.com · 23d

The official charity of the Savannah Bananas has a hard time explaining how its money is spent: defector.com/the-official...

The Official Charity Of The Savannah Bananas Has A Hard Time Explaining How Its Money Is Spent | Defector

Bananas Foster describes itself as “the official non-profit of Banana Ball,” the barnstorming baseball league that hosts the Savannah Bananas. Its mission, per executive director Jolie Chabala, is…

defector.com

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Reposted by Casey Toner

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · 26d

In 2023, a Minnesota homeowner argued that the County violated her Fifth Amendment rights by taking her home and pocketing more than the $15,000 she owed in back taxes. Following the ruling, states rushed to reform their laws to avoid legal fallout.

All except Illinois.

(🖊️ Sidnee King Pineda)

Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · 27d

NEW: Illinois is the only state that has yet to reform its tax sale laws after the Supreme Court found unconstitutional a process that can cost homeowners their residences.
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/11/l...

Lawsuits Pile Up as Illinois Lags on Reforming Tax Sale Laws

Illinois is the only state yet to reform its law after the Supreme Court found unconstitutional a process that can cost homeowners their residences.

Lawsuits Pile Up as Illinois Lags on Reforming Tax Sale Laws

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Reposted by Casey Toner

Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · 27d

NEW: Illinois is the only state that has yet to reform its tax sale laws after the Supreme Court found unconstitutional a process that can cost homeowners their residences.
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/11/l...

Illinois is the only state yet to reform its law after the Supreme Court found unconstitutional a process that can cost homeowners their residences.

Judge Won't Lift Order Barring Release of Body-Cam Footage of Officer Krystal Rivera's Killing

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Reposted by Casey Toner

Dan Mihalopoulos @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social · 28d

BREAKING: Timothy C. Evans, chief judge of the Cook County circuit court system for 24 years, has lost his re-election bid to Judge Charles Beach, 2 courthouse sources just told me.

The vote this afternoon was Beach 144 and Evans 109, one of the sources said.

Awaiting official statement

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Reposted by Casey Toner

Peter Nickeas @peternickeas.bsky.social · 28d

Strange, in court this morning. In the middle of a hearing, judge took a phone call from her "boss," then came back and ruled that documents + videos would remain secret despite prosecutors + defense agreeing the secrecy order could be lifted. When asked, chief judge's office refused to comment.

Judge Barbara Lynette Dawkins declined to lift the order, even though prosecutors and defense attorneys had no objection to the move.

10 years after state budget impasse, human services in Illinois again brace for ‘tsunami’

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Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · Sep 5

I love that it's just like 6 people from Australia building the world's most popular, thoughtfully crafted game and selling it using the Fugazi ticket model

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Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · Sep 5

I'm pleased to report Silksong is a blast

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Reposted by Casey Toner

Capitol Fax @capitolfax.bsky.social · Aug 31

Your weekend read: @hannahmeisel.bsky.social and others look back on the state government impasse capitolnewsillinois.com/news/10-year...

By CASEY TONER, HANNAH MEISEL & MOLLY PARKER This story is a collaboration between the Illinois Answers Project and Capitol

capitolnewsillinois.com

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Reposted by Casey Toner

John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · Aug 28

There's a lot in here about the state of the human services sector in Illinois, and I think that @ctoner.bsky.social doesn't lose sight of the ball here: The human services sector exists to moderate the risks of daily life that we all face. When it is shredded it makes life miserable.

Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · Aug 28

illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/28/i... Judy Stegle has been the primary caretaker of her daughter Courtney since '97 after a catastrophic car crash. She's been unable to get help from the state/insurance to buy a lift to help her move Courtney. Clearly, someone could/should step up to make this happen?

10 Years After State Budget Impasse, Human Services in Illinois Again Brace for ‘Tsunami’

Nonprofits hurt by impasse boosted budgets with federal funding — now endangered by Trump.

10 Years After State Budget Impasse, Human Services in Illinois Again Brace for ‘Tsunami’

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Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · Aug 28

That was one of my takeaways, that repeated itself a million times throughout the impasse. Life dealt the Stegles the cruelest of circumstances and the State of Illinois removed the tiniest of mercies available to them in service of the world's dumbest and most disasterous political crusade.

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Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · Aug 28

illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/28/i... Judy Stegle has been the primary caretaker of her daughter Courtney since '97 after a catastrophic car crash. She's been unable to get help from the state/insurance to buy a lift to help her move Courtney. Clearly, someone could/should step up to make this happen?

Nonprofits hurt by impasse boosted budgets with federal funding — now endangered by Trump.

10 Years After State Budget Impasse, Human Services in Illinois Again Brace for ‘Tsunami’

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Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · Aug 28

A look at the people still left in the cold from Illinois budget impasse 10 years later with an eye towards the federal Medicaid cuts coming soon w/ @hannahmeisel.bsky.social and Molly Parker illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/28/i...

Nonprofits hurt by impasse boosted budgets with federal funding — now endangered by Trump.