Peter Nickeas
@PeterNickeas
Followers
23,765
Following
762
Media
4,065
Statuses
85,579
Gun violence, childhood trauma, early life adversity. Reporter, @bettergov . Formerly @uarkansas , @cnn , @chicagotribune , @niemanfdn , @dartcenter . #chicago
Chicago, IL
Joined January 2009
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
Amethi
• 174270 Tweets
Knicks
• 144074 Tweets
राहुल गांधी
• 135243 Tweets
Sixers
• 73084 Tweets
Brunson
• 71152 Tweets
憲法記念日
• 67081 Tweets
#Raebareli
• 64027 Tweets
Embiid
• 58946 Tweets
स्मृति ईरानी
• 23868 Tweets
Smriti Irani
• 23505 Tweets
Hayırlı Cumalar
• 22826 Tweets
Tobias Harris
• 22082 Tweets
Pachuca
• 21751 Tweets
ゴジラ-1.0
• 21127 Tweets
Josh Hart
• 20654 Tweets
Hield
• 17043 Tweets
KerenTIMNASKU STYdanERICK
• 16521 Tweets
Pumas
• 16100 Tweets
TetapSMANGAT GarudaMUDAKU
• 15800 Tweets
DONBELLE IN SOCCSKSARGEN
• 11392 Tweets
Pinned Tweet
If you dropped this prayer card downtown, I grabbed it and can get back to you.
#chicago
0
56
139
“Please someone respond to me. … I’m sorry I ripped the paper. I overreacted. Please just let me out.
Is anyone out there?”
-A child, locked in a room, alone, at school
607
4K
7K
I start a new job at CNN on Monday, covering policing.
392
68
3K
Update:
The 7-year-old girl shot while trick-or-treating last night underwent surgery last night, and again today.
After today's surgery, she woke up and was able to talk about school, her friends and Minnie Mouse (who she was dressed as for Halloween.)
#chicago
53
294
2K
A Holocaust-denying neo-Nazi will be the Republican nominee for an Illinois congressional seat.
“I’m running for Congress not the chancellor of Germany. All right. To me the Holocaust is what I said it is: It’s an international extortion racket.”
398
3K
2K
Whole Chicago area is flooded and
@chicagotribune
is running scheduled features and no breaking news b/c .. 40-50% of newsroom is furloughed. This is what happens when a hedge fund has its way. Editors hope shit doesn't break on a Sunday. Most Sundays it doesn't. Some, it does.
30
833
2K
The Chicago Police Department's only K9 trained in cadaver search was euthanized this weekend after being diagnosed with cancer. His name was Brix. Worked until the end.
#chicago
34
208
2K
Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease
Which Cubs prospects are poised to make a leap in 2020?
23
6
56
31
206
2K
That's oppo research, not reporting.
Actual reporting means keeping your eyes open, your mouth shut, and finding what you find.
Breitbart has dispatched two reporters to Alabama with a mission: discredit the allegations against Roy Moore
690
1K
975
41
346
1K
Chance The Rapper Clarifies He From Chicago
17
156
1K
This is ... I don't know. Maddening? Heartbreaking? 26th Street on Halloween is one of the most beautifully innocent things to see in the city - it's thousands of kids up and down from Kedzie all the way to Kostner going business to business with their families.
7-year-old girl shot in chest while trick-or-treating
3700 block of West 26th Street, Chicago -
coverage:
47
249
371
40
416
1K
To see a kid in distress and think they need anything other then love and help ... I don't know.
6
126
1K
Near 40 shot last night and the
@chicagotribune
didn't have anyone working, and tonight the one reporter working will have to be with the mayor and a district's worth of police protecting one home.
Every institution in Chicago is failing right now. Show me one that's not.
44
387
1K
“Please, please, please open the door. Please, I’ll be good. Open the door and I’ll be quiet.”
13
230
907
Lost in all this, maybe I took it for granted, was that a city police commander jumped in on a foot chase because he heard it on the radio. Not a lot of bosses work like that.
This was pointed out to me - THAT is the type of officer Cmdr Paul Bauer was.
#chicago
12
266
891
“I’d rather die. You’re torturing me.”
6
167
795
For real, imagine a kid asking for a blanket and saying no. I'm stuck on this. I can't get past it. I just can't understand. And your job is to work with kids!
5
89
789
I can't fathom a kid in distress trying to connect with an adult and the adult thinking the correct response is to tell them they need to be quiet and can't be warm. I just don't get it.
8
135
772
"Time served."
Teachers, adopting the language of correctional officers, in dealing with children.
7
152
656
11:42 Crying. "Let me out of here. I'm crying alone." Walking in circles around room.
11:44 Crying in front of door. Squatting in middle of room crying.
3
125
612
@chicagotribune
For what Matt Lauer made, you could put 5 reporters in every statehouse in the country at 80k/year with 20k/year benefits. Every statehouse! And I bet in 42 to 48 of those states, they'd be the highest paid reporters in the state.
15
393
638
Going to study childhood trauma for a year at Harvard thanks to the
@niemanfdn
- I believe deeply in the work we do here and I'm incredibly fortunate and grateful for this opportunity
91
62
688
Furloughed next 3 weeks. Thankful unemployment will carry me. Disgusted by corporate pirates and their enablers, newsroom and elsewhere. All I've ever wanted to do is work hard and build a simple existence. Grow tomatoes and oregano, send my kid to school, an occasional vacation.
36
53
651
15-year-old boy arrested, charged in connection with shooting of 7-year-old girl, 31-year-old man last night in Little Village. 2 counts agg battery, 2 counts attempted murder.
#chicago
30
212
524
Each booth is about 6 by 8 feet, with a steel door. That day, one held a boy who had hung on a basketball rim and swore at staff when they told him to stop. In another, a boy who had used “raised voice tones.”
What else is 6x8 with a steel door 🤔🤔🤔
4
150
539
11:45 Crying "I don't want the door shut, I want new clothes." Trying to open the door. "I don't want it closed."
Watson told him it needs to stay closed because he was naked. (Door not locked.)
1
103
523
“Looking at a stack of 8,000 pages at one time really did kind of hit home,” he said when he met with reporters in the spring. He has not responded to recent requests for comment, including about specific incidents.
...
“When we read it, it reads punitive,” she said.
4
76
529
Jace spent more than 80 minutes in the room before someone stepped inside to hand him a change of clothes, wipes to clean his feet and some lunch.
2
112
505
Bridges used seclusion 1,288 times in the 15 months of school that reporters examined. The school has about 65 students.
86 times per month in a school with ... 65 students.
2
140
494
"And while federal officials suggest that seclusion should end as soon as the problematic behavior stops, Illinois law allows a child to be secluded for up to 30 minutes more."
I don't see any other way to read that other than that extra 30 is punitive.
3
82
498
State GOP chair said “The Illinois Republican Party and our country have no place for Nazis like Arthur Jones.”
I don't see how nobody saw this coming. The guy ran for this seat a bunch of times before, never viable. But now he's unopposed and the party nominee for the seat.
30
200
458
11:49 Crying by the door. Morgan told him to sit against the wall for 5min and then he'd be given his next direction.
11:51 Sitting quietly against back wall w/ head on his knees.
4
86
448
By 8:35 a.m. on Dec. 19, 2017, all five of the timeout “booths” at Bridges Learning Center near Centralia were already full. School had been in session for five minutes.
1
123
460
“Isaiah states he has headache and ringing in his ears. Nurse filling out concussion form.”
“Nurse is concerned he has been head banging several times, even slower to answer than usual, he was dizzy when he stood up, almost fell over.”
27
104
454
The Mayor getting upset at a reporter for asking to elaborate on something is one way to manage a crisis, I suppose.
25
47
465
There's a list of dead Russian reporters that, if alive, might have a *slightly* different take
13
404
429
My son started crawling today. I don't get home at night until a couple hours after he's asleep. No way of squaring that right now. This is the job I chose, that's on me. This is me and him a few nights ago. I love him.
35
5
461
North Shore School District 112 converted two coat closets to isolation rooms. The McLean district ... opened two rooms in an elementary school. At Dirksen Elementary in Schaumburg, two new 6-by-6 rooms are in use. They’re called “resolution rooms.”
11
114
413
9:10 Laying down. Eyes closed.
9:15 Laying down. Eyes closed.
9:20 Laying down. Eyes closed. Appears to be sleeping.
9:23 "Can I get the heavy weighted blanket? I'm cold." Staff explained that the weighted blanket is not used for that purpose. She replied "Oh my god!"
4
68
414
9:28 Has been asking several questions and attempting to talk to staff. Her instructions are to remain quiet. Her being able to follow instructions will determine how long she remains in isolation.
2
71
364
... "The suspects on the video can be heard yelling, "F*** Donald Trump! F*** white people!" "
#chicago
42
340
293
My wife and I never talk baby to our son. He's 2, and he knows the phone numbers and geographic boundaries of 22 police districts and three detective areas, gang colors signs and boundaries, UCR codes for every gun offense, and most importantly, that stable is not a condition.
My wife and I never baby talk to our kids. We use full sentences and a wide vocabulary including complex words.
My son is 3 and can carry a full conversation. Adults at family gatherings are shocked at his social aptitude. My daughter isn’t even 2 and she uses 4-syllable words.
2K
18K
86K
20
26
380
14 shot. Exchange of gunfire. From a black car to a crowd and back. Multiple offenders and shooters. One in custody79/Carpenter.
#chicago
85
199
312
this is a dumb thing to say
source: I cover these events in Chicago
13
63
348
"Jones told the
@Suntimes
he is a former leader of the American Nazi Party and now heads a group called the America First Committee. “Membership in this organization is open to any white American citizen of European, non-Jewish descent,” he said."
32
374
303
had that thought this morning while we were chasing something.
Local newsrooms are playing with pennies now, it's hard to fathom what a big-city metro desk could do with $25m. It's too much money to seem real.
But this is as good a thought exercise as any.
6
171
334
What weird language. Like public safety is causing the closure. Like it's so safe downtown that the whole area just had to be closed off.
I know *why*. I just wish someone would be honest in their language about why. And I know why the city won't be - but I still wish.
CHIBIZ Alert: Due to public safety, the downtown area is closed to incoming traffic from Division to 18th St and Du Sable Lake Shore Drive to Halsted.
38
43
144
19
49
392
The guy smiling shook down a children's hospital exec for a campaign contribution and tried to sell appointment to a Senate seat and the other guy is a Professional Journalist.
26
88
349
There was a new kid at daycare today who was crying because he's new and unfamiliar. Normal kid stuff. My son just turned 3, so he's not old but not a baby. He saw him crying, went over and held the boys hand and walked him to his favorite teacher.
9
9
347
This is disgusting and the people of Chicago and the journalists of the
@chicagotribune
deserve better
A day after laying off journalists at the Chicago Tribune, Tronc releases SEC filings that say the company’s top executives have gotten raises.
1. CEO Justin Dearborn, before:
2. Dearborn, after:
3. CFO Terry Jimenez, before:
4. Jimenez, after:
27
653
583
8
185
319
"It's sickening. Makes you wonder what would make individuals treat somebody like that." CPD Supt on FB Video
13
93
225
This is Jalen Ivy. He's an incredibly sensitive, smart, charming, mature, artistic 12-year-old. In my ideal world, he represents the future of this city. In years of city work, I've never encountered a kid like him.
He's paralyzed now, by gunshot wound.
18
153
298
Today. My son told all his classmstes they were his Valentines, and then. He said the teachers too. Then he danced for so long he became sweaty. He's three. I am unclear on what my role as a parent is anymore
14
3
305
@ChicagoPhotoSho
-> A few school districts in Illinois prohibit seclusion, including Chicago Public Schools, which banned it 11 years ago. But these districts often send students with disabilities to schools that do use it, such as those operated by most of Illinois’ special-education districts.
4
31
269
"His small body “bore 49 scars, some likely the result of the normal falls and mishaps of youth, but others just as likely evidence of the abuse he suffered at an early age.”"
Early childhood intervention is anti-violence work.
18
179
287
I don’t get to see him at night before he goes to bed but on Friday we hang out all day
19
2
289
Soon, I’ll start a new job covering criminal justice at
@illinoisanswers
. I’ve missed covering violence – scenes, vigils, wakes, schools, hospitals, meetings, door knocks … everything. Was my way of contributing to home, doing local work, and feels right to be reporting again.
36
33
327
I'm in my 9th year at the Tribune and the stress of disinterested owners, unsteady direction, the way the company has treated people ... it's 100x worse than anything I've encountered on the job.
The work makes sense. I feel called to it. It's the inside stuff that's stressful.
14
34
280
Was a 6-year-old shot tonight and 9-year-old last night. New CPD Supt was talking about topping out at 300 murders for the year but we'll be there likely before end of June. There were 18 people shot on Monday. And best I can tell ... it's just not an issue right now.
28
105
264
Tomorrow is my last day of work at CNN. I was laid off. Grateful for the time there, and I wish it would have worked out. Trying to see at this as an opportunity, and a chance at something new.
69
24
313
Chicago deserves a better than the public policy resulting in 3yos & other kids getting shot + killed every fking summer since who knows when. Better from the media, city hall, CPD, CPS, SA. Not the same Monday morning hand-wringing-gee-golly-we're-sorry bullshit we will get.
17
78
279
"With millions of votes yet to be counted, President Trump falsely asserted election fraud, pledged to mount a legal challenge to official state results and made a premature claim of victory in a bitterly contested race that may take days to resolve."
THE MORNING AFTER: Presidential election hangs in balance, w/WI, MI, PA, GA, NV and NC still too close to call.
9
44
199
12
65
272
'side gig' = second job because your career and advanced degree won't support a middle class family
2
5
4
4
67
234
it remains politically viable to ignore violence in this city
27
75
299
I'm guessing, it's probably just coincidental that this was announced on a Monday morning after 70 people were shot over the weekend, instead of Wednesday or Thursday before the restrictions are to take effect.
Chicago to re-tighten COVID-19 rules for restaurants, bars, gyms and salons: mayor
23
29
100
26
70
250
I'm proud of all my
@chicagotribune
colleagues and everyone who turned out today to support each other. Order of the day was the company's disrespect of five young reporters who have logged more miles in the last year than any other team of reporters covering Chicago.
7
60
275
Trying to sign my kid up for an art program through CPS, this is in the waiver:
"all derivative works created by the enrolled child are not to be used, reproduced or publicly displayed by me or any family member."
39
35
296
I played in the ocean with my son today. We splashed around low tide in south Maine and sat on a rocky beach so he could sift through stones. He pointed at boats, at water, at the ocean, at dogs. He said hi to strangers, and bye too. He is free of pretense. Just wonder and love.
5
9
262
Fact: If someone says Chicago's violence is caused by (one thing) they likely lack even surface-level understanding of issue
Rep. Jeanne Ives, Rauner’s potential primary challenger, says Chicago’s violence can be blamed on absentee fathers.
10
7
8
13
79
244
I believe he laughed for the first time today. It was a good day.
5
4
255
79 / Morgan, facing 79/Carpenter. People shot. Crowded scene here. Details as available.
#chicago
28
103
227
Here, Lavontay White Jr., 2, shot to death today at Ogden / Kostner.
#chicago
"Happy 2nd Birthday"
was his last birthday
12
279
219
It's not really surprising the mayor's counsel was for tamale vendors to not take cash, the city police social accounts offer advice to residents on avoiding being victimized. It's city policy at this point to push that responsibility out to residents.
20
59
268
Somehow my 2yo son who I can't regularly get to repeat after me, today he said "no fuckin way" right after I did while watching
@leurygarcia1
second homer sail into the seats.
17
11
240
7
45
224
I don't know. It makes sense to me, that this is a public health crisis. I watched a bunch of people struggle to save the life an 8-year-old girl last night, a bunch more try to process what they were seeing. The girl died. Grief all over.
Gun violence is unequivocally a public health crisis that demands continual action to combat. That's why I signed gun dealer licensing and restored social service and violence interruption funding. I'm committed to making the sustained investments required to save lives.
146
125
739
15
81
235
I went on a tour at a robot lab once and asked - whose job is it to think about the worst possible thing something could be used for - and the answer, in short, was "no one."
Imagine what machines will be able to do in the next 5-10 years.
Boston Dynamics' machine shows its flawless gymnastic routine.
@AndrewYang
2K
7K
30K
18
74
233
The address of arrest is the 010th District police station - should know more after the court hearing but that usually means they walked in (with family, or a lawyer) because they knew they were wanted.
1
44
204
I am going to teach my son to be nice to everyone he meets
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
1
26
223
An officer tried to arrest someone on scaffolding, and the man told him "You guys don't have the numbers." Another arrestee was freed by the mob, still in cuffs.
Bedlam, generally, inside the fight for the Capitol.
9
56
215
Let the love that you show on Christmas, the grudges you set aside, the generosity of the season, the capacity for forgiveness and empathy ... Let that carry you through the year. It need not be a holiday spirit. It can just be how you live. Be kind, show love. Help people.
13
47
229
Started a new job this week, as a visiting professor at the University of Arkansas. Teaching journalism, specific to my work history. I'm here now and a few more times this semester. Beautiful campus, engaged students, everyone's been really friendly and welcoming. I love it.
33
5
249
1. I am not a talking head; my paper doesn't value my opinions on literally anything. 2. Nobody has taken you serious in years. Your union chose a cop who got caught on a side job while laid up & was first FOP president elected while stripped of police powers ... instead of you.
This coming from a talking head at the paper that is nothing more than the PR outlet for the corrupt wrongful conviction movement.
3
1
10
17
13
221
As a fairly frequent reader of news, but not well versed in everything going on, I would like an explanation about this
Comey: The FBI investigation into Trump & Russia ties began in late July 2016.
October 31, 2016:
4
27
35
14
87
205
I'm sorry, we were told yesterday and at the end of August that crime was down
Summers* in
#Chicago
2020: 343 killed, 1606 wounded
2019: 172 killed, 890 wounded
2018: 210 killed, 924 wounded
2017: 240 killed, 1068 wounded
2016: 276 killed, 1292 wounded
2015: 213 killed, 998 wounded
*Memorial Day - Labor Day weekends
39
183
235
13
54
202
A pet peeve of mine is passive voice when it comes to violence. The boy here did not "lose his life" the way a child loses a toy. It was not his life to lose. Someone took his life. He's dead by some other's choices.
Last night, 1 y/o Carmelo Duncan lost his life to gun violence in our city. MPD is committed to bringing justice to his family and need your help in identifying those responsible.
Have info? Call (202) 727-9099/text 50411
@ATFWashington
@FBIWFO
Release:
44
416
295
11
27
206
"How about putting neighborhoods that are hope vacuums and dead-body factories ahead of improvements to the downtown Riverwalk? How about something besides a press conference when the heat gets turned up after a particularly bad weekend?"
#chicago
10
78
187