On Tuesday, State Rep. Ken Dunkin was the lone Democratic holdout on two bills that would have reversed changes made to social service programs by the governor. This, despite pleas from child care advocates and the risks associated with going against powerful House Speaker Mike Madigan. Dunkin joins "Chicago Tonight" to discuss his decision.

The Citizens Police Data Project went online Tuesday. The searchable database chronicles 56,361 police disciplinary records. Among them, more than 28,000 allegations of misconduct filed against the Chicago Police Department between March 2011 and September 2015, and records on officers repeatedly accused of wrongdoing between 2000 and 2008.

The Illinois General Assembly returned to work in Springfield on Tuesday for the first time in three weeks. Amanda Vinicky joins us with the latest.

The violence in Chicago continues to spark rage and national headlines. Last week it was the murder of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee, then 20-year-old Kaylyn Pryor, an aspiring model, was gunned down. This weekend 14-year-old J-Quantae Riles was killed. Eddie Arruza reports on steps being taken on the city’s West Side to combat the violence.

Joel Weisman and his panel of guests discuss the top stories of the week, including the announcement by Lake County officials that police Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz’s death was a suicide; the tragic murder of 9 year old Tyshawn Lee; the new trailer for Spike Lee's controversial film "Chi-raq"; and news that CPS schools may see thousands of layoffs this winter.

The general consensus: Last week's GOP presidential debate on CNBC was a disaster, but it has led to a lot of discussion over what sort of format and approach upcoming debates should take. Newton Minow, who has been called the father of televised presidential debates, joins our discussion.

New rules that will allow rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft to start making pickups from O'Hare and Midway airports could be in place as early as Nov. 18. How will these changes impact taxi drivers and others who drive for a living? We speak with Peter Ali Enger of the United Taxi Drivers’ Community Council.

At least 43 union workers continue to cash checks from the state, despite the closure of several institutions, including the 138-year-old Illinois State Museum in Springfield.

Illinois is in its fifth month without a state budget and Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Bruce Rauner have traded barbs—and possibly some dead fish—over how to resolve the impasse that is sucking all of the oxygen up in Springfield. We talk with "Chicago Tonight" reporters Paris Shutz and Amanda Vinicky, and WBEZ political reporter Tony Arnold. 

Joel Weisman and his panel of guests discuss the guilty plea of Dennis Hastert in a mysterious hush-money case, reports of a federal investigation surrounding Cook County Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, the mayor's budget that sailed through City Council, and other top stories of the week.

For years, the Cook County facility that houses juvenile delinquents was under the control of the federal government. Today it was handed back to the county, and "Chicago Tonight" was there. Join us for an exclusive look inside the facility as it marks a new beginning.

Cook County Court Clerk Dorothy Brown joins "Chicago Tonight" to discuss losing her endorsement from the county's Democratic Party and an apparent federal investigation into her office. 

In the third prime-time meeting of Republican presidential aspirants, the biggest loser of the evening appeared to be cable financial news network CNBC, which was roundly criticized by participants and observers for getting started late and for the way moderators handled the proceedings. Political communications expert Jason DeSanto joins "Chicago Tonight" to analyze the debate.

Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert pleads guilty to federal charges connected to a hush-money scheme. Did anything else come to light about this mysterious case?

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's record $588 million property tax hike sailed through the City Council today with only 15 aldermen voting against it. The hike is the centerpiece of Emanuel's bad news budget that imposes additional taxes and fees. We speak with a panel of aldermen about the budget and how they voted.

Though almost unanimously approved Wednesday, the museum could still be stopped by a pending lawsuit.