It’s already Wednesday. Coast through this shortened holiday week with these stories from WTTW News.
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(WTTW News)
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Chicago police responded four minutes faster to the most serious 911 calls for help in the six months after Mayor Brandon Johnson scrapped the city’s controversial ShotSpotter gunshot detection system in 12 South and West side neighborhoods, an analysis of Chicago crime data in those neighborhoods shows.
Using data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act request as well as data published by the city, Rob Vargas, a sociology professor at the University of Chicago who leads the UChicago Justice Project, an analysis found there is no evidence that Johnson’s decision to turn off the microphones that sent an alert to police officers every time the system picked up suspected gunfire slowed police response times or drove up violent crime, as many warned.
Response times dropped across the city during the six months after Johnson scrapped the system in September 2024 over the vehement objections of a majority of the Chicago City Council, as compared with the six months before it was shuttered, according to the analysis.
But response times dropped faster in police beats where the gunshot detection system had been operational, according to the analysis, which examined CPD response times to 911 calls given the highest priority that did not involve reports of gunshots, according to the analysis. CPD data did not always distinguish between ShotSpotter-initiated alerts to the Office of Emergency Management and Communications and those reported to 911, Vargas said.
“It is clear that ShotSpotter wasted officers’ time by sending them on wild goose chases,” Vargas told WTTW News.
More context:
Police response times dropped in beats that had ShotSpotter even though many of those neighborhoods are among the city’s most violent, especially during the summer months, according to the analysis.
In the neighborhoods that had ShotSpotter, homicides dropped more than 32% during the nine months after the system was decommissioned, as compared with the nine months before it was turned off, according to the analysis. Violent crime dropped more than 11% during the same period in those neighborhoods, according to the analysis.
The city’s own data shows that there is “zero evidence” that ShotSpotter — or any gunshot detection tool — would have a positive impact on crime and violence in Chicago, Vargas said.
“The data is missing in this debate,” Vargas said. “There should have been a collective breath of relief that this decommissioning didn’t lead to catastrophe, but the data hasn’t changed the debate.”
See the full analysis here.
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Former congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh speaks to the news media on May 21, 2026, after federal prosecutors dropped charges against her in the so-called “Broadview Six” case. (Matt Masterson / WTTW News)
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Transcripts detailing federal prosecutors’ alleged misconduct during multiple grand jury proceedings in the “Broadview Six” case are expected to be released publicly after the politically charged case fell apart last week.
Defense attorneys for the former defendants had sought the explosive transcripts, which are typically kept secret, after Chicago’s U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros dismissed the remaining charges in the case last week.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur on Tuesday said the government would not object to their release, subject to the redaction of grand jurors’ personal information.
Whatever happened during those secret hearings led to defense attorneys accusing prosecutors of a “scandal” and a cover up, a federal judge saying her trust in the prosecutors handling the case was “broken” and Boutros issuing a public apology.
Defense attorneys also sought the release of audio tapes from those hearings in order to give a better idea of the “tone” of conversations between prosecutors and members of the grand jury.
“I think the tone leaps off the page in many cases,” Judge April Perry said of the transcripts.
Some backstory:
After the case collapsed last week, defense attorneys sought a preservation order requiring prosecutors to maintain “all material information related to this scandal” after they said they have “lost complete faith and confidence in this U.S. Attorney’s Office to do the right thing on its own.”
But MacArthur on Tuesday said her office is already subject to the Federal Records Act, which requires the preservation of such documents, and has taken additional steps since late last week to ensure all records relating to the failed prosecution are being maintained.
In a remarkable turn last week, Boutros appeared before Perry to apologize for his prosecutors’ conduct and announce that his office would be dismissing all charges against the remaining four defendants — former 9th District congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh, her campaign staffer Andre Martin, Oak Park Village Board Trustee Brian Straw and Democratic Committeeperson Michael Rabbitt.
That trial had been slated to begin Tuesday morning. Instead, Boutros’ office now faces widespread criticism for its handling of the high-profile case behind closed doors.
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Brandis Friedman hosts a WTTW News forum on policing and public trust at Thalia Hall on May 26, 2026. (Jay Smith / WTTW News)
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Nearly a hundred people gathered at Thalia Hall in Pilsen Tuesday night for a discussion presented by WTTW News on police-community relations.
Host Brandis Friedman and audience members put questions to a Chicago Police Department official, leaders of local anti-violence nonprofits and community-police organizations to try and assess the current state of community and police relationships.
It’s a relationship that is “improving,” said Glen Brooks, director of community policing for the Chicago Police Department. He said there’s been a “transformational difference” in conversations about policies.
“I promise you, back in 2000, 2003, if you said the community member wanted to talk about use of force, they would slam the door in your face,” Brooks said.
He said there’s now “a seat at the table” for community members.
But one area that audience members and other panelists emphasized a need for improvement is compliance with the consent decree, the court order that requires CPD to stop violating Black and Latino residents’ constitutional rights.
Leonardo Quintero, chair of the 12th District Council of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, said compliance with the decree is the “bare minimum.”
Brooks with CPD said it’s a “massive amount of work,” pointing to the 714 paragraphs of requirements the city must comply with.
By the end of 2025, CPD fully complied with 25% of the consent decree.
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Back in the Day: May 27, 2021 - Javy Baez's Chaotic and Unlikely Baserunning Play
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On this day five years ago, one of the most unlikely and chaotic plays happened in a May 27, 2021, matchup between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates. At the top of the third inning, the Cubs were batting. They had two outs and catcher Willson Contreras at second base. Javy Baez was up at the plate when he hit what appeared to be a routine groundball. When Pirates first baseman fielded the ball, he could’ve stepped on first base and ended the play, but Baez retreated to home and Craig pursued him. The chase lasted so long that Contreras made his way from second to home and scored, which then allowed Baez to run to an unguarded first base. The Pirates, unable to throw
Baez out of first, threw an error, which then allowed Baez to steal second base, too. The Cubs ended up winning 5-3. Craig said of the play, “I just kind of lost my mind for a second," and “I'm going to end up on a blooper reel for the rest of my life, probably.”
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Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for May 27-June 2
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Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Wednesday, May 27:
Elizabeth Moen, G’Nite at Empty Bottle. Free.
A free, 21+ concert previewing Do Division Fest with a talented local singer-songwriter headlining.
Thursday, May 28:
National Photo Committee, Lifeguard, 2w33dy at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
The music blog Post Trash said the local twangy indie rock headliners could be the “best bar band in America.”
Belle & Sebastian, U.S. Girls at Salt Shed. Tickets.
The long-running Scottish indie pop band plays their debut album, “Tigermilk,” in full, alongside select hits from their catalog.
Joshua Ray Walker, Cecilia Castleman at Schubas. Tickets.
This country crooner has a powerful voice, which will effortlessly fill this tiny Lakeview club.
Paper Wings, the Montvales at Judson & Moore. Tickets.
Gentle roots and folk from a talented duo.
Friday, May 29:
Wild Pink, Spitalfield, Elizabeth Moen, more at Do Division Free. $10 suggested donation.
With programming curated by the Empty Bottle and Subterranean, Do Division is one of Chicago’s best street festivals.
Belle & Sebastian, U.S. Girls at Salt Shed. Tickets.
The long-running Scottish indie pop band plays their breakthrough second album, “If You’re Feeling Sinister,” in full, alongside select hits from their catalog.
Jeff Tweedy at Vic Theatre. Tickets.
The Wilco frontman’s annual benefit shows will feature fan-requested rarities and an intimate acoustic performance. The first of two nights.
Saturday, May 30:
Pete and Bas, Rockie Rode, Glyders, Delivery Boys, Junegrass, Lip Critic, more at at Do Division Free. $10 suggested donation.
With programming curated by the Empty Bottle and Subterranean, Do Division is one of Chicago’s best street festivals.
Jeff Tweedy at Vic Theatre. Tickets.
The Wilco frontman’s annual benefit shows will feature fan-requested rarities and an intimate acoustic performance. The second of two nights.
Mekons at Hideout. Early show tickets and late show tickets.
The local country-punk pioneers are double-booked on Saturday: with one show at 4 p.m. and the other at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 31:
Wombo, Nico Segal, Starcharm, Rich Jones, more at Do Division Free. $10 suggested donation.
With programming curated by the Empty Bottle and Subterranean, Do Division is one of Chicago’s best street festivals.
Tuesday, June 2:
Kevin Morby, Liam Kazar at Metro. Tickets.
The Kansas City songwriter brings a Chicago folk-rocker to show the city songs from his excellent new LP “Little Wide Open.”
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What's your favorite small concert venue in the Chicago area? Tell us why.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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