Dan Hinkel

@danhinkel.bsky.social

1948 Followers 582 Following

Chicago journalist at Injustice Watch.

My household just finished a watch/rewatch of the canonical “A Nightmare on Elm Street” films, which is a good way for horror fans to get ready for Halloween cinema season. Leave aside the stranger danger panic and half-baked messages about criminal justice and enjoy the darkly funny, inventive action set pieces that play out on the landscape of dream logic. My favorites are 2, 3, 4, and the truly excellent “New Nightmare,” a layered metafictional story that makes a fitting coda to the main run of the series. —Dan Hinkel, senior reporter
The song Bad Company by the band Bad Company from the album Bad Company
In early May, after The Times began reporting this article, Ms. Russini responded to a reporter’s request for an interview via text message. She cited the “intense scrutiny and personal attacks” she had faced, saying, “This has had a significant impact on my life, both professionally and personally.” At the end of the message, referring to herself as a “former journalist,” Ms. Russini asked the reporter not to quote from the text. The interaction demonstrated a different approach to journalism from the way that it is conducted in traditional newsrooms. When the reporter told her that this article would include portions of her text message because no agreement had been made for them to engage in an off-the-record correspondence, Ms. Russini objected and then emailed Mr. Perpich, the publisher of The Athletic, as well as two senior editors at The Times to reiterate her wish that her comments not be included.
Bogoljub
The protest group is expected to include two men — Juan Rivera and Bennie Starks — who spent a total of 40 years in prison for crimes that DNA indicated they didn’t commit. Their cases are two of the four in which Waller’s office insisted the right men had been jailed despite forensic evidence suggesting the opposite, drawing national attention to the Lake County justice system’s errors. “I don’t think he deserves an award for anything,” Starks said, noting that several freed former inmates, including him, have sued Lake County law enforcement authorities. “For what? For costing the taxpayers millions and millions of dollars?”
From the Lake County Bar Association: Congratulations to Michael J. Waller on receiving the 2026 Benedict J. Ori Award. This distinguished award recognizes a former Lake County prosecutor whose contributions have had a lasting impact on law enforcement, the legal profession, the judiciary, and the citizens of Lake County.
In an interview, Drew said he’s frustrated that prosecutors seem to get endless opportunities to accuse him of the crime, even after dropping the charges. He wants the case off his record because he’s afraid of police pulling him over and seeing the murder conviction. He got locked up at 18 years old and lost the chance to have the life he wanted. He said he just wants prosecutors to admit they were wrong. “At 46, I have no children. You took that from me, man. You fucking took that from me,” he said through tears. “It’s not fair,” he added. “It cost me 25 years out of my life.”
Christina Whitehouse, founder of Bike Lane Uprising, said that stretch of Halsted is a notorious “high-crash corridor.” But cyclists have few options for going north or south there, and “painted bike lines don’t stop anything,” she said. “We’re seeing elected officials post that they’re so sorry, but many of them have done nothing to improve cycling safety in their wards or the city, so they have a role in this, too,” Whitehouse said. “I just really grieve for [CDOT employees] knowing they have to go to work and face the same pushback after their coworker who tried very hard to improve cycling safety was killed in unsafe bike lanes.”
Sam Sianis memorial at at Nisei. The cubs suck.
I’m excited to share that we’re launching an “article club” to bring people together to discuss our reporting about the Cook County court system. Expect an informal gathering every few months with refreshments, good conversation, and an opportunity to go behind the scenes of Injustice Watch stories. Our first meeting takes place on Wednesday, June 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Walls Turned Sideways (2717 W. Madison St.). We’ll be discussing senior reporter Dan Hinkel’s recent investigation into certificates of innocence. Learn more and RSVP here. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Jackson, 44, said he’s been losing sleep over the certificate of innocence battle. He said he wants both to expunge his case and have the certificate so he can show it to prospective employers and police at traffic stops. He also has a hope that germinated in front of a prison television: to go to the island of Bora Bora, which he learned about from the dining and travel show “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.” “Crispy blue water, sunshine. I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m going there when I get out,’” he said. But he’s been struggling to get a passport. He suspects federal officials are giving him a hard time because of his record, and thinks they’d be more likely to help him if he had a certificate of innocence.
Tyrece Williams watched his four children, including his son Derrick Griffin, grow up largely through photographs his family mailed to him in prison. Photo by Taylor Glascock
I know video series such as Criterion Closet Picks, “What’s in My Bag?” from Amoeba Music, and the Severin Cellar are just selling me things, but they’re things I want to be sold. I use these clips — in which musicians and actors and directors recommend movies and albums — to build out my ever-expanding lists of art I want to check out. A favorite metal band, Blood Incantation, put me onto ambient and prog gems. Ryan Coogler reminded me of movies I need to see. Director Joe Dante highlighted horror oddities. I can’t escape consumerism, but I can try to be an interesting mark. —Dan Hinkel, senior reporter
Staff picks My wife and I have a small vinyl record collection, including our no-skips favorite albums, but the real treasures are the bargain-bin jazz classics and left-field curiosities. The best is one a friend gave us from his late uncle’s collection: “The Singing Nun,” by Soeur Sourire (French for “Sister Smile”), a Belgian Catholic nun who died in 1985. She was once famous enough to be on the Ed Sullivan Show and the subject of a film adaptation, but her buoyant French singing and gentle guitar strumming came as a revelation to us. Her music is widely available online and can be heard on weekend afternoons in my living room. —Dan Hinkel, senior reporter The rumors are true. After 25 years, the Belmont Tavern has reopened its doors. First opened as a butcher shop and saloon in 1890, Belmont Tavern has seen multiple owners — current owner Nick Kokonas is prioritizing maintaining its historic charm and serving some great cocktails. Located in Avondale, right off the Belmont Blue Line, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a post-work happy hour with friendly staff who are more than happy to talk about the tavern’s history. —Verónica Martinez, visual reporter
In an email, a spokesperson for State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said her office “remains committed to protecting public safety, ensuring accountability and upholding the rule of law alongside our law enforcement partners. We look forward to reviewing the Mayor’s Executive Order now that we have received it.” Johnson said Burke was “in complete support” of his order, but she later released a statement saying that her office hadn’t been briefed. “We do not provide legal approval of any matter until we’ve reviewed it. On such a critical issue, it’s important we get it right,” Burke said.
Ed Reed consoling Malachi Toney in a big funny hat
Far Side desk calendar
The book True Grit
Ross Malinger
My dog
fop lawyer advice on drunk driving
Packers fan in a Bears bar
Christmas tree
Scary movies are a year-round pastime for me, but most Christmas horror films are lame cash-ins. Here are a few personal favorites with winter settings or holiday themes: the Finnish dark fantasy gem “Rare Exports,” Joe Dante’s rightfully classic “Gremlins,” the brooding Swedish vampire thriller “Let the Right One In,” the indie werewolf charmer “The Wolf of Snow Hollow,” and the enduringly distressing Kathy Bates masterwork “Misery.” —Dan Hinkel, senior reporter
Several sources have characterized the losing as frustrating for Antetokounmpo and the team's front office, coaches and the rest of the players.
Sting played a concert in Gary, Ind.
While Border Patrol photographers snapped photos, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’” “Little Village!” the crowd shouted back from the Downtown sculpture, located 6 miles northeast from the Chicago neighborhood.
Conversations with the novelist John Irving are not brisk affairs. They are more marathon than sprint. It is a euphemism to describe him as deliberate. If you have an interview with Mr. Irving, 83, set aside several hours, if not days.
Crain's story on Mayor Richard M. Daley starting a bank
FOP February cover with Tom Homan and the headline The Ice Man Cometh
“All these people ain’t making this stuff up!” said Gwendolyn Wells, Renwick’s mother. “There has to be some truth to it. You’re taking all these different people from different areas — all of them are not making this up.”
“There have been other Thoreaus,” said Peter Alden, 81, a birder who works in the gift shop. “Richard followed someone, who followed someone else. Now some other guy will become our new Thoreau. It’s sad that he’s done, but he’s ready to do something different.”
“The liability issues for the city are clear,” Richardson-Lowry said in an exclusive interview. “We have two officers that were investigated by the FBI, pled guilty, served time, lost their pension. The probability of a favorable outcome here is de minimis at best.”
Picture of Veronica Martinez's Injustice Watch mural
A nonsense AI overview from Google getting everything wrong about the Cubs