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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the challenges Mayor Rahm Emanuel faces trying to win back voters amid the Chicago Public Schools' budget crisis, massive school closings, and rampant gang violence. Watch the web extra video.

Sculptures in Grant Park, a craft exposition, and lots of dancing; Chicago Tonight knows what's going on this weekend.

Chicago Public Schools students are headed back to school on Monday following the closing of nearly 50 schools and the introduction of new safe passage routes. Paris Schutz has the latest.

Nadav Shoked, Assistant Professor of Law at Northwestern University, and Tina Feldstein, President of the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance, join us to discuss the pros and cons surrounding the city’s controversial plan to expand McCormick Place with a 10,000 seat arena for DePaul University’s basketball team, as well as adding two hotels. 

How much is a CEO worth? Matt Kiefer, Associate Research Director for Crain’s Chicago Business, joins us to take a look at the paychecks some Chicago-area CEOs are taking home and how they compare nationwide.

Academy Award-nominated actor Michael Shannon is back in Chicago, performing in Simpatico at A Red Orchid Theatre. He joins us to chat about the Sam Shepard play, Boardwalk Empire, and what’s next. Read an interview with the Simpatico director, view a slideshow, and watch videos.

After 40 years of offering live models for professional and amateur artists to draw or paint, The Drawing Workshop in Ravenswood is now in jeopardy of closing due to the retirement of its founder, George Sotos. We have the story. View a slideshow and read an interview.

This month, Karsyn Terry took fourth place in a national, 14-and-under pool tournament. In the 24 years that this tournament has existed, Karsyn is the first African American to make the finals. We revisit Jay Shefsky's profile. Read an article.

Renowned jazz pianist and composer Marian McPartland died on Tuesday, August 20, at age 95. She was a pioneer for women in the field of jazz and became a popular and enthusiastic exponent of the genre all her life. Watch a web extra video of Marian McPartland and Rosemary Clooney in an unforgettable rendition of the Gershwin classic, “Our Love is Here to Stay.”

Chicago Tonight first learned that Alex Clifford would like his old job back at Metra, and his lawyer says that giving it to him is the only way to undo the controversial severance package that is now estimated to pay him close to $900,000.

Eddie Arruza and his guests have analysis of the RTA audit, and they take a look at where Metra goes from here.

Al Jazeera America launched Tuesday. Will the latest offshoot of the Middle Eastern media network be a success in the United States? We have analysis.

At half an acre, the rooftop garden atop McCormick Place West is the largest in the entire region. We bring you the backstory behind this little-known space. Read an article.

The biggest news stories through the unique lens of political cartoons: We speak with Scott Stantis of the Chicago Tribune and Eric Allie of the Pioneer Press.