The Chicago Public Schools budget that is short half a billion dollars is officially enacted. The fate of that $500 million assistance is in the hands of the Illinois House, where support is currently tenuous at best. Thursday, some House lawmakers sent a message to the city and Chicago Public Schools: certain things have to happen before that chamber gets on board. What are they?

Meet two storm survivors who moved to Chicago after the destructive storm ripped through the New Orleans area.

Still no budget in Springfield and now the state's comptroller says Illinois is starting to fall far behind in paying its bills. We have the latest on this and other news out of Springfield on Chicago Tonight with Amanda Vinicky.

If you have any ideas about how Chicago can come up with more than $750 million to help balance its budget—then the city wants to hear them. Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office today announced three town hall meetings as he prepares to unveil his 2016 budget to the City Council on Sept. 22.

Thursday is Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair and, as expected, they used the opportunity to slam Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s anti-union, pro-business Turnaround agenda that they say is preventing lawmakers from approving a statewide budget. We’ll have more news from Springfield with Chicago Tonight’s Amanda Vinicky.

Wednesday is a make-or-break day for candidates running for office in 2016. The powerful Cook County Democratic Organization met for what is their traditional slating session. Which candidates won the coveted endorsement and how does it bode for 2016?

The Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments over Chicago's pension reforms in November. Attorney John Schmidt says the city's pension reforms are fundamentally different than the state's reforms that were struck down earlier this year. Schmidt joins us on Chicago Tonight.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced on Tuesday a plan to improve the service of two of the city's busiest bus routes. The three-part plan calls for improved speed and overall performance of Chicago Transit Authority buses along Western Avenue (No. 49) and Ashland Avenue (No. 9). Get details of the plan and read the mayor's announcement.

A new proposal before the City Council aims to prevent another controversial privatization deal like the infamous parking meter lease of 2008, but some critics say the plan doesn’t go far enough. Joining Chicago Tonight to discuss the proposed ordinance is Judy Stevens, policy coordinator at the Better Government Association, which consulted the Emanuel administration when crafting the ordinance. 

Two leaders in the Illinois House of Representatives join Phil Ponce on Chicago Tonight to discuss the budget stalemate in Springfield and a possible property tax freeze.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Democratic candidate for president, brings his campaign to Chicago Monday evening. The senator and self-avowed socialist has attracted huge crowds and national attention, with polls that show he is gaining on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. What is behind the buzz, and who in Chicago is behind him? Paris Schutz joins us with that story.

Should downstate and suburban school districts pay the hundreds of millions in costs to fund their teacher pensions? A group of Chicago area state lawmakers say yes. They say it’s a better way to level the playing field between Chicago and other school districts. But not everyone is on board.

The House today passed a bill freeing up nearly $5 billion in federal money. But Democrats failed to get enough support for an amendment to spend state dollars on some human services. After the vote, House Speaker Michael Madigan expressed frustration over the failed effort, but Republicans weren't buying it. We'll get the latest from Springfield with Chicago Tonight's Amanda Vinicky.

Former Mayor Richard J. Daley redefined almost every aspect of Chicago during his 21 years in office. And his impact on the city is still felt today in politics, the city's skyline, and neighborhoods. A new website from the UIC's Richard J. Daley Library examines the late mayor's life through archival footage and dozens of interviews with his family and colleagues. 

An Illinois House committee voted Tuesday on a bill already passed by the state Senate that will allow the state to start spending $5 billion in available federal money. We have the latest from Springfield with Chicago Tonight's Amanda Vinicky.

Chicago residents who say that the reconfiguration of O’Hare’s runways will lead to higher noise levels in their neighborhoods sound off in front of Federal Aviation Administration officials. On Chicago Tonight, we find out what the FAA is saying about the new flight paths, and how they plan to mitigate the skyrocketing number of community complaints.