Gregory Royal Pratt Email & Phone Number

Member of Tribune's long-term investigations team focused on accountability and impact

Chicago, Il

City Hall reporter covering Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago's 50 aldermen.Previously covered Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the race that left her Chicago's first one-term mayor in decades, as well as Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration, the chaotic 14 candidate race to replace him, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's government. Particular focus on accountability work, including stories about how Emanuel's affordable housing policies fail and Preckwinkle's questionable hiring practices.During the mayoral campaign, I trailed Lori Lightfoot across the city, developing sources in her winning camp and chronicling her historic victory. Contributed to the Tribune's agenda-setting coverage of the campaign and broke numerous major stories during the mayor's race, including that Preckwinkle hired powerful Ald. Edward Burke's son to a six-figure job while he was under investigation for misconduct at his previous employer -- after the power broker personally asked about a job for his son.In addition, I've reported on the massive City Hall corruption investigation into Burke and Ald. Daniel Solis, an ongoing case that dominated the mayor's race and will continue to loom over Chicago politics for potentially years to come.

Worked in the Tribune's downtown office as a general assignment reporter with an investigative emphasis. Highlights include stories on a 1994 rape and murder where new DNA pointed toward a serial rapist -- not the two men serving life sentences. Coverage included watchdog work, spot news when both men were freed, and a feature on Nevest Coleman's return to the groundskeeper job he held with the Chicago White Sox 23 years before his wrongful conviction.Also spearheaded accountability reports on programs touted by public officials, including in-depth reports detailing how Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s FOIA failures cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees, delays in completing a South Side training center, and City Colleges’ empty shuttle bus program.

Anchored coverage of Chicago's south suburbs for Tribune and newly acquired Daily Southtown publication, reporting from dozens of municipalities.Led an investigation of a prominent school district’s financial decline and exposed corruption and fraud using more than 100 record requests, community sources, financial reports, and court filings, leading to a superintendent’s indictment. Also reported with a partner on abuses of power in Markham, a tiny poor suburb where the mayor was one of the state's leading political fundraisers. Key findings included that the mayor used tax incentives to subsidize a nightclub where people were frequently shot. Subsequently covered his federal bribery conviction, including a charge tied to vendor/donor whose issues we'd previously reported.

Assigned to one of the Tribune's top suburban beats, Tinley Park, where I earned recognition by uncovering a culture of insider dealing benefiting the longtime mayor's closest associates: secretary, campaign manager, friends and commissioners. Also teamed with two reporters to expose how Tinley Park became the first big community in the country to install all-electronic water meters -- and then hid problems with them overcharging, leading to public apologies, a top official’s resignation and more than 18,000 meters’ removal.

Greater Chicago Area

Focused on Latino neighborhoods, immigration and social justice issues. Interviewed residents, law enforcement, and associates of a madam to explain how a brothel sprung up in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.

Minneapolis

-Crafted deeply reported narratives, including a viral profile of Guy Fieri’s breakup with his producer, the story of a TV station’s million-dollar defamation case and a look at the city’s evolving graffiti scene.

Phoenix

-Built trust with immigrant community to tell layered stories about deep problems with immigrant detention facilities and report how Dreamers are building businesses to survive.

Chicago

-Helped build a database tracking 85 wrongful convictions in Illinois by filing records requests and contacting victims for "The High Costs of Wrongful Convictions" investigation.

Chicago

Launched in-depth series chronicling the effect of dwindling state funding on academic departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Reported on waste, inefficiency, and poor decision-making throughout administration, from a $68,000 toilet on the dean's floor to the lavish renovation of the chancellor's home.