Springfield bureau chief for the Chicago Sun-Times Dave McKinney joins us to discuss all the latest action in Springfield, where things stand for Gov. Quinn’s proposed budget and the latest on efforts to pass pension reform for Cook County workers.

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis discusses her opposition to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s re-election, who she would like to see run against him, the union’s proposal for a new tax on financial transactions and much more. 

As student loan debt spirals out of control, U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin pushes legislation to lower interest rates and save individual borrowers thousands. 

The Cook County Forest Preserve District makes its biggest land purchase in nearly 50 years snapping up a foreclosed 400 acre horse farm in Barrington Hills.  We look at how the Forest Preserve was able to afford the $14.5 million property and what it might become. 

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) and the Nigerian Islamic Association decry the kidnappings and violence in Nigeria. They also distance themselves from Boko Haram, saying the terrorist group is extremist, but not Islamic. The U.K. have also joined the international effort to rescue the girls. 

As the nation rallies together to bring back the girls abducted in Nigeria, nearly 25,000 women and girls fall victim to trafficking in Chicago every year. Tonight, we address Chicago’s human trafficking problems, possible solutions. 

Welcome to Chicago Tonight’s online coverage of Illinois' 2014 Gubernatorial Election. We’ve gathered information here about the final candidates, Democrat Pat Quinn, Republican Bruce Rauner, and Libertarian Chad Grimm.

The City of Chicago's lawsuit against the Chicago Park District and the owners of the Park Grill in Millennium Park is in its second week in the Daley Center. Check in for the latest developments. 

We’re at the six-month mark to the General Election. The gubernatorial race heats up as both Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican candidate Bruce Rauner come under scrutiny. We take a look at that and more.

Yet another probe into Gov. Pat Quinn's troubled $55 million anti-violence initiative, as a GOP lawmaker seeks to get subpoena power over the program started by Quinn in 2010. Read the original State's Auditor General report. Watch web extra videos.

The Supreme Court's decision on May 5 upheld the right to public prayer in civic settings. Does the close 5-4 vote indicate a new tilt toward conservatism? Is the decision an expansion of rights for communities? 

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the City Council’s partial ban on plastic bags, and how it will impact South and West Side neighborhoods. Also, the reporters weigh in on the city’s image as portrayed in CNN’s “Chicagoland” series.Watch the web extra video.

The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance regulating petcoke today. Petcoke is a coal-like substance, a byproduct of refining oil. The new ordinance does put new restrictions on the handling of petcoke, but the community says it's far from enough protection for the neighborhood. Elizabeth Brackett has the story.

Plastic bag ban, pedicab drivers, digital billboards, and more, Paris Schutz has the latest on a flurry of activity by the Chicago City Council today. 

There's a growing outcry over a plan to spend $100 million in state money to bring a Barack Obama presidential library to Chicago. Paris Schutz has the latest. View a map of all official 15 presidential library locations.

Governor Quinn floats a way to pay for Chicago pension reform that does not involve property tax hikes -- and the City Council is on board.  Paris Schutz has the latest.