It's an unprecedented nationwide effort to raise the achievement bar for all students. Illinois has joined 45 other states in adopting rigorous, new academic standards for students in grades K-12. Elizabeth Brackett reports on what that means for Chicago schools.

Our science guy, Neil Shubin, explores Chicago’s connection to the winners of this year's Nobel Prize for chemistry, giant viruses, and more in this edition of Scientific Chicago.

Clear your coffee table -- a new encyclopedia by the staff of The Onion takes on all human knowledge and turns it upside-down. We talk with one of its editors.

Chicago's skyline was once booming with billboards and neon signs. But where are they now?

It’s been a week now in the WTTW station and I’m feeling lucky to have met some wonderful people here. I had my first chance to go on-air, on the program Chicago Tonight, on Thursday. 

So far, there are some interesting observations that I would like to share about the American way of living.

Several reports surface of a new investigation into the campaign finances of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

After 17 months, Jean-Claude Brizard has stepped down as CEO of Chicago Public Schools. On Friday, the mayor announced Barbara Byrd-Bennett as his replacement. Who is the new head of CPS, and what obstacles does she face? Carol Marin and her guests have the latest.

Harvey Fierstein joins us to talk about the new musical, Kinky Boots, which is currently getting a pre-Broadway run in Chicago.

Northwestern University Athletics Vice President Jim Phillips joins us to talk about the state-of-the-art athletics facility coming to campus -- and a Wildcat football team on the rise.

Getting to be in your 80s and 90s and still having the mind of someone much younger is everyone's dream. But now researchers are looking into how so-called "SuperAgers" manage to do it. We take a look.

We have your thoughts on the high rate of absenteeism by some members of Chicago's City Council in tonight's Viewer Mail.

After months of meetings and planning, the Chicago Cultural Plan 2012 was unveiled Monday. The new plan will serve as an initiative to develop an arts education plan for Chicago Public Schools and enhance Chicago's culture sector.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel critique Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s oratory skills and continue their conversation about his budget plan in our web extra video.