Katie Prout's Avatar

Katie Prout

@katieprout.bsky.social

features writer, Chicago Reader: harm reduction, homelessness, and chicago/rust belt history. proud member, Reader Union kprout@chicagoreader.com; signal katie.507 https://www.katieprout.com/

2,177 Followers  |  475 Following  |  425 Posts  |  Joined: 02.02.2024
Posts Following

Posts by Katie Prout (@katieprout.bsky.social)

Steve is being treated like a domestic terrorist only for reporting on the Trump anti-immigrant β€œblitz” in the Chicago area.

He was detained but NOT charged - yet punished.

This is purely to deter those who question power or even observe what’s being done by DHS.

Again - #JournalismIsNotACrime

04.03.2026 21:44 β€” πŸ‘ 77    πŸ” 50    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
The Department of Law β€œdid not intentionally fail to comply with” city law, Richardson-Lowry wrote.

But β€œwe recognize that there were inconsistencies in production, which provide an opportunity for (the Department of Law) to review internal processes and procedures. That review has occurred,” Richardson-Lowry wrote.

That review prompted department leaders to take β€œsteps to address any gaps between the coordination of file production for responses to the (Office of the Inspector General) and Freedom of Information Act requests by providing additional training on policy and procedures for administrative employees involved in these tasks,” Richardson-Lowry wrote.

Similar requests now must be reviewed by a supervisor, Richardson-Lowry wrote.

The Department of Law β€œdid not intentionally fail to comply with” city law, Richardson-Lowry wrote. But β€œwe recognize that there were inconsistencies in production, which provide an opportunity for (the Department of Law) to review internal processes and procedures. That review has occurred,” Richardson-Lowry wrote. That review prompted department leaders to take β€œsteps to address any gaps between the coordination of file production for responses to the (Office of the Inspector General) and Freedom of Information Act requests by providing additional training on policy and procedures for administrative employees involved in these tasks,” Richardson-Lowry wrote. Similar requests now must be reviewed by a supervisor, Richardson-Lowry wrote.

we fixed our lack of transparency by making it harder to release such info in the future

04.03.2026 20:34 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

a supermajority of union members at law360, which is owned by the same parent company as lexisnexis, have signed a letter demanding the organization stop working with ice.

lexis is a major supplier of personal data to ice (and many other law enforcement agencies).

04.03.2026 16:18 β€” πŸ‘ 40    πŸ” 18    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Loch Ness monster + X-Files + faked moon landing vibes, extraordinary mood

03.03.2026 01:52 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Black ink drawing, silhouette of a utility pole and power lines

Black ink drawing, silhouette of a utility pole and power lines

Power Lines Drawing #114 (Detroit, Buchanan St)

Original drawing for sale by me at my store
8" x 10", black ink on paper
$250

marcusmerritt.bigcartel.com/product/powe...

27.02.2026 17:24 β€” πŸ‘ 62    πŸ” 13    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Local Man Enjoys Herbie Hancock Sunday Morning

01.03.2026 15:20 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

The more frustration I feel when my baby stands up mid diaper change, the more likely I am to address him as β€œmy brother in Christ”

01.03.2026 15:21 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Color photo. We're looking out over a farm's barren winter landscape. At the horizon, the sun is rising and the low edge of the sky is peach, while most of the sky above it is still blueish. Across the top of the image, some electrical lines cross through. At mid-distance, the only real subject in the image is a home or barn. We're looking at the side facing away from the sunrise, so it is nearly pitch black, with detail hard to make out.

Color photo. We're looking out over a farm's barren winter landscape. At the horizon, the sun is rising and the low edge of the sky is peach, while most of the sky above it is still blueish. Across the top of the image, some electrical lines cross through. At mid-distance, the only real subject in the image is a home or barn. We're looking at the side facing away from the sunrise, so it is nearly pitch black, with detail hard to make out.

US-421, near Medaryville, IN.

01.03.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 53    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Video thumbnail

Hundreds packed into Chicago's Federal Plaza this evening in protest of the U.S.-Israeli massacre in Iran.

01.03.2026 00:01 β€” πŸ‘ 1098    πŸ” 297    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

The number is now 40. Imagine the response to a mass shooting that killed 40 kids at school.

But this is an act of self-defence.

28.02.2026 12:35 β€” πŸ‘ 265    πŸ” 84    πŸ’¬ 11    πŸ“Œ 10

β€œThere is absolutely, unequivocally no appropriate way to detain a child, period,” Jones said, citing studies showing that detention is associated with serious health consequences for children. β€œIt is causing physical, mental, measurable, studied harm. There is no context in which that’s justified.”

27.02.2026 14:40 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

hard to read this because it makes me sick to my stomach. these children deserve the world.

27.02.2026 14:39 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

concentration camp profiteers

27.02.2026 13:59 β€” πŸ‘ 86    πŸ” 55    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 3
Preview
Chicago’s DePaul Art Museum to Close After 40 Years The DePaul Art Museum will close after 40 years amid substantial financial challenges at its parent university, which has initiated layoffs.

$42 million for a basketball training facility destroying local housing, not a dime for art. $850 MILLION for Northwestern's new vanity stadium. Loyola demolishing a building housing local businesses. Ethical bankruptcy, thy name is higher education, 2026.
www.artnews.com/art-news/new...

26.02.2026 18:25 β€” πŸ‘ 34    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 6

In an attempt to control the public narrative around Chicago police, CPD’s communications/pr budget has increased 700 percent over a decade.

Meanwhile, CPD’s refusal to answer Freedom of Information Act requests has resulted in 200 public records litigation cases & cost the public $3.1 million.

26.02.2026 14:19 β€” πŸ‘ 32    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
A PR Push on the Public Dime: Chicago Police Podcast Records Peel Back Layers of Expanded Communication Costs Podcasts are a new avenue for police to reach the communities they serve. A monthslong public records battle with CPD identifies the cost of the podcast β€œRoll Call.” It is the latest evidence of the h...

The β€œRoll Call” podcast is just part of a larger push in recent years to expand CPD’s communications operation.

Comms have vastly expanded over the past decade, and costs rose along with it.

26.02.2026 14:04 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 7

To do this, anti-trans lawmakers in Kansas moved fast to change the law, overrode the governor’s veto, and pushed for the legal changes to go into effect nearly immediately. That kind of powerβ€”to void gender on official documents, to compel gender conformityβ€”is terrifying and it will not stop here.

26.02.2026 02:57 β€” πŸ‘ 3061    πŸ” 1309    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 59

We have 15 rents in need of a home

26.02.2026 00:31 β€” πŸ‘ 38    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Just throwing it out there because ya never know, but if you have $1100-$3000 to give and would like to cover a rent tonight, hit me up on Signal.

I am asiniiwiikwe.72

26.02.2026 00:29 β€” πŸ‘ 174    πŸ” 141    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 8
Preview
We’re One Triibe United, help us get recognized! The TRiiBE has grown so much since its founding in 2017, thanks to the Black and abolitionist press that paved the way for us. We are a trusted news source on both the local and national levels. This ...

It's gonna be a hot union spring. Workers at The TRiiBE are organizing!!! Sign their letter demanding TRiiBE management recognize their union πŸ‘‰ actionnetwork.org/letters/were...

25.02.2026 16:56 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

let's gooooooooooo. excited to get into it in good faith with our new owners, Noisy Creek

25.02.2026 15:09 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

You think "the online left" is unhinged, dog please talk to an independent voter IRL. They want universal healthcare and abolish taxes. They want to dissolve the coast guard. They want to rename the army the coast guard. They want their alien implants removed, and they also want more alien implants

24.02.2026 00:04 β€” πŸ‘ 9237    πŸ” 1385    πŸ’¬ 138    πŸ“Œ 105

[Reading about the impending NYC blizzard] lord I see what you have done for others

23.02.2026 01:04 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

A snowstorm could fix me

23.02.2026 01:04 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Just found out Fredrick Brennan died. I only met him in person once, but I always had a lot of respect for his personal growth and ownership of his past. More than anything, I respected his commitment to changing himself for the better.

He was a good guy. So it goes.

22.02.2026 01:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1392    πŸ” 112    πŸ’¬ 39    πŸ“Œ 27
Preview
US-led Board of Peace a 'colonialist operation,' Cardinal Pizzaballa says Cardinal PierbattistaΒ Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, strongly criticized the U.S.-ledΒ Board ofΒ Peace, an international body chaired by President Donald Trump to oversee the governance and r...

"What do I think of the Board of Peace? I think it is a colonialist operation: others deciding for the Palestinians,” said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa: www.ncronline.org/news/us-led-...

19.02.2026 20:22 β€” πŸ‘ 1309    πŸ” 326    πŸ’¬ 25    πŸ“Œ 96

Doing things the "right" way, burning out and then realizing there is another option, coming back and winning it all with no fucks given? Yes please tell me that story forever.

21.02.2026 04:12 β€” πŸ‘ 3211    πŸ” 508    πŸ’¬ 17    πŸ“Œ 13
Preview
Third American death linked to ICE crackdown uncovered by Newsweek While the 23-year-old's death was reported in March 2025, it was not made clear that a federal agent fired the fatal shot.

For a whole year, DHS hid that they murdered Ruben, a young man in Texas, after a traffic stop.

Just like they did with Silverio, Renee, Keith, Alex, and Linda, they lied and avoided accountability. How many more people have to be executed before my colleagues realize that reforms are not enough?

20.02.2026 20:27 β€” πŸ‘ 449    πŸ” 219    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 10

We have an interview with Tara Raghuveer, the director of the Tenant Union Federation, about this rent strike coming out Monday and frankly I've never seen this kind of organizing happening this fast anywhere outside of cities in the middle of straight up revolutions

Moreover, ICE must be destroyed

21.02.2026 00:52 β€” πŸ‘ 188    πŸ” 48    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Google Streetview of the property with PIN10 1610311024: 4418 West Fulton Street

Google Streetview of the property with PIN10 1610311024: 4418 West Fulton Street

4418 West Fulton Street

20.02.2026 18:45 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1