Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is raising concerns about local law enforcement's ability to object to certain concealed carry applicants. Brandis Friedman has the details. Read an article.

After a scandal that resulted in the resignation of its CEO, Metra is looking for a new leader. Elizabeth Brackett sits down with new Metra board members to talk about leadership and the company’s vision going forward.

Sixty-five ex-offenders who work for the CTA will soon find themselves out of a job, thanks to a dustup between the rail union and CTA management. Can it be saved? Paris Schutz has the story. Read an article.

The New York Times' White House correspondent Peter Baker discusses his new book, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House. He addresses who was really pulling the strings behind the scenes during George W. Bush’s two terms. Read an excerpt.

The holidays would not be the same without it. We go behind the scenes to see how the Joffrey Ballet manages to keep its annual presentation of The Nutcracker fresh and new every year. Read an article.

We talk with the man recently hired to turn the city’s high-tech incubator known as 1871 into a major technology hub.

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle and Tom Dart have a new plan to ease the overcrowding at Cook County Jail. Carol Marin and her guests take a closer look at how they are trying to reverse the chronic problems with the Cook County criminal system, including the resentencing of violent offenders from boot camp to prison, as well as the results of a meeting between Chief Judge Tim Evans, Preckwinkle, Dart and the Illinois Supreme Court to reduce the massive criminal case backlog.

Chicago and the U.S. are in a transitional phase in terms of how they are perceived on the global stage according to Ivo Daalder, President of The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. We talk with Daalder about Council initiatives that are working to bring Chicago and the country into a new age of diplomacy. Read an article.

From building a website to building the computer itself, students from the Woodlawn neighborhood are getting hands-on technological experience under a new program called Artifice. The programs founders, who are affiliates of the University of Chicago, say they hope the program will provide the students with skills that will eventually turn into careers or small businesses. Read an article.

Quarterback Jay Cutler turns in a rollercoaster performance in the Bears’ win over the Browns. James “Big Cat” Williams joins us to critique Cutler, break down the potent rushing attack, and preview the Eagles matchup. Watch a web extra video.

Tarell Alvin McCraney, an ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theatre, was the recipient of a $625,000 “genius grant” from the MacArthur Foundation this year. He joins us. Read an interview.

We share what you had to say about the pending Ashland Bus Rapid Transit project in tonight's Viewer Feedback.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the week's top headlines.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists take on weather reporting in Chicago. Does local media over-hype the weather? Watch the web extra video.

Randolph Street's Holiday Market, an art show in Bucktown, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s holiday concert; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.