Investigative Reporter at WBEZ - Chicago Public Mediahttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mzlv6vxqrs2bOn this day in 1960, what we now call the Kennedy and Eisenhower Expressways opened, with the governor saying, "Chicago has been stifled by bottlenecks, the worst in the nation. Those bottlenecks are now broken." So much for that ... https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/10/23/kennedy-expressway-construction-commuters-illinois-department-transportation-pritzker?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=102326%20Morning%20Edition&utm_content=102326%20Morning%20Edition+CID_42f45f93e44d8ae2fb1a48f3bdb44ab6&utm_source=cst_campaign_monitor&utm_term=3%20years%20later%20Kennedy%20Expressway%20traffic%20nightmare%20persists&tpcc=cst_cm05 Nov 2026 22:12 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzlv6vxqrs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3myrvpc2kes2eIf you've sat there on the Kennedy thinking to yourself, "This is the worst traffic ever" - well, you're exactly right, according to our @wbez.org analysis of traffic data https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/10/23/kennedy-expressway-construction-commuters-illinois-department-transportation-pritzker26 Oct 2026 14:12 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3myrvpc2kes2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mteszs3ztk2pMy editor long ago at @themaneater.bsky.social and I teamed up for this investigation into another charter school fiasco in Chicago. @sskedreporter.bsky.social and I also joined @melbalara.bsky.social on @wbez.org to talk about our latest scoop. Listen here pls! https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/08/11/former-charter-school-operator-aspira-declares-bankruptcy-could-profit-from-sale-of-taxpayer-funded-building18 Aug 2026 18:13 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mteszs3ztk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mtestukvu22pThank you @citycastaustin.bsky.social and convivial host Jacoby Cochran for having me on an episode of the podcast a few days ago. Listen to us here: https://chicago.citycast.fm/podcasts/funeral-home-under-investigation-aspira-charter-files-bankruptcy-and-chicago-fire-heats-up18 Aug 2026 18:10 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtestukvu22phttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mtesqwkdgs2pThey say the house always wins. But apparently not so when it comes to Trump in AC - or Bally's in Chicago https://chicago.suntimes.com/casinos-gambling/2026/08/17/ballys-chicago-casino-video-gambling-going-concern18 Aug 2026 18:08 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtesqwkdgs2phttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mtesonvhwk2pThe governor's office declined to comment when asked by @wbez.org if Pritzker favor regular state inspections of funeral homes and tougher criminal penalties for desecrating human remains. Is Illinois really not ready for reform after what has happened (again)? https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/08/18/south-deering-funeral-home-decomposing-bodies-illinois-lax-oversight-inspections18 Aug 2026 18:07 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtesonvhwk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3msyonoyebs2eIllinois taxpayers ponied up $27M for a charter school building. 11 years later, the school is closed, and its bankrupt operator is trying to pawn off the building to a developer - for $11M https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/08/11/former-charter-school-operator-aspira-declares-bankruptcy-could-profit-from-sale-of-taxpayer-funded-building13 Aug 2026 22:23 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3msyonoyebs2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3msyo5cwkik2eProud to be among the @wbez.org and @chicago.suntimes.com journalists who've won a National #Murrow Award for best news documentary from @rtdna.bsky.social for "Becoming Bovino" - a pod about the leader of Trump's anti-immigrant "blitz" in the Chicago area last year https://www.wbez.org/the-rundown-chicago-news-podcast/2025/12/23/becoming-bovino?subscription=true13 Aug 2026 22:14 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3msyo5cwkik2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mnsijr4xec2tFormer Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel defends his 2018 decision to keep the city out of the joint US/Canada/Mexico bid for this summer's World Cup finals [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Jun 2026 20:11 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnsijr4xec2thttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mmzgb5rqa22wWBEZ racks up EIGHT Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards - out of 11 categories - including best "news documentary" for our "Becoming Bovino" podcast in partnership with the Sun-Times! https://www.rtdna.org/2026-regional-edward-r-murrow-award-winners#region729 May 2026 20:54 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmzgb5rqa22whttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mlvwcq26yk2kΚαλό παράδεισο, Mister Sam https://chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2026/05/15/sam-cheezborger-sianis-legendary-owner-of-the-billy-goat-tavern-dies-at-9115 May 2026 18:06 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvwcq26yk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3ml52nitdh22dSamantha Steele ran for reelection as a Cook County elected official while facing a DUI case in Cook County court. She lost in the Democratic primary in March. But she won in court today https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2026/05/05/samantha-steele-chicago-cook-county-board-of-review-crime-dui-drunk05 May 2026 20:47 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml52nitdh22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3ml2csuqyok2mThe DUI trial of lame-duck Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele began today. The prosecution is making their case, but they have adjourned for the day and will resume at 9 AM tomorrow, with a couple more witnesses…04 May 2026 18:35 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml2csuqyok2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mky7hvidpk2eMake sure to click listen to hear this moving storytelling from @wbez.org’s @chipmitchell1.bsky.social https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/01/chicago-immigration-midway-blitz-trump-children03 May 2026 22:30 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mky7hvidpk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mky7ejp3qc2eToday is World Press Freedom Day. Respect first to independent Russian colleagues I’ve met over the years — none of whom still live in Russia. Our solidarity with all who are exiled from homelands where journalism is seen as a crime…03 May 2026 22:28 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mky7ejp3qc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mky76p3mt22eThe shooting death in the line of duty of CPD officer John Bartholomew is big news also in Greece, as he was of Greek heritage. Αιωνία η μνήμη του https://epolitical.gr/sikago-nekros-38chronos-omogenis-astynomikos-apo-pyra-kakopoiou/03 May 2026 22:25 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mky76p3mt22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mknzgd3c5s22Honored to be among the reporters/writers/podcasters on a story that won a couple of the many National Headliners Awards for @chicago.suntimes.com and @wbez.org in this year’s competition29 Apr 2026 21:15 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mknzgd3c5s22https://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mkne5w6uns2j“In my 25 years as a federal judge, I’ve never seen the type of brutality shown by the agents involved in Midway Blitz” https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2026/04/28/illinois-accountability-commission-pritzker-federal-immigration-agents-ice-midway-blitz29 Apr 2026 14:54 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkne5w6uns2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mkjjsrdn5s2mBeen reporting in Chicago long enough to have covered every City Hall IG - and more than long enough to remember when the new IG brought a federal civil fraud case vs a key Rahm Emanuel ally [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Apr 2026 02:25 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkjjsrdn5s2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mkixao2lh22aBig news for anti-corruption efforts in Illinois https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news/2026/04/27/illinois-madigan-comed-corruption-speaker-house27 Apr 2026 20:53 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkixao2lh22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mki7earylc22Gerontocracy https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/05/gerontocracy-wealth-power/686585/27 Apr 2026 13:45 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mki7earylc22https://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mki76asjr222Four-year sentence in Oct 23. Paroled in January. In court today to face charges in murder of a CPD officer https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/04/27/suspect-charged-in-swedish-hospital-shooting-that-left-1-cop-dead-and-another-fighting-for-his-life-source27 Apr 2026 13:42 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mki76asjr222https://bsky.app/profile/dmihalopoulos.bsky.social/post/3mki6mk5rpk2wSo many questions about this horrible tragedy. Deepest condolences to the family of Officer John Bartholomew, the young man slain in the line of duty. May his memory be eternal. Prayers for the officer “fighting for his life” https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/04/27/suspect-charged-in-swedish-hospital-shooting-that-left-1-cop-dead-and-another-fighting-for-his-life-source27 Apr 2026 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:vbttuiis47dt7emnk3lev2km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mki6mk5rpk2w