Former Illinois Governor George Ryan is one step closer to getting out of prison.  Paris Schutz has more on today's decision.

A new study shows Chicago has more police officers per resident than other major U.S. cities.  So why is the city making national headlines with its crime rate?  We take a closer look.

Funeral services were held today for pediatric surgeon Donald Liu.  Liu drowned on Sunday trying to rescue two children caught in a rip current.  We have a profile.
 

A Chicago Public Radio report says Illinois' prison system is in a state of crisis, with overcrowding and new allegations of inhumane conditions. We have the latest.

One pension system in Illinois has been reformed-- it's the one at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Could the plan be a blueprint for the other state pensions in trouble?

See how the Illinois House voted on the Metropolitan Reclamation Water District's pension amendments in our interactive graphic.

If you get sweet cravings at strange times, help is on hand.

We revisit a story about how small, pop-up, organic community gardens are challenging people's perceptions about life in Chicago.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney makes his pitch in President Obama's backyard.

Who would work for $1? Well, that's the salary for Chicago's deputy mayor. The present and future men who hold the position share insights on the city's fiscal outlook.

A dozen drownings this year from rip currents in the Great Lakes. We learn more about the deadly currents.

The battle lines have been drawn over Bertrand Goldberg's Prentice Women's Hospital. Eddie Arruza reports on the fight between preservationists and the building's owner: Northwestern University.

How does life go on after devastating trauma? A Bosnian concentration camp survivor and a journalist discuss their new book on trauma and healing.

Composer Marvin Hamlisch dies at age 68. We revisit a 1997 Artbeat story where Hamlisch visits The People's Music School in Chicago.

We get praise and taken to the woodshed in tonight's Viewer Mail.