Stories by Jessen O'Brien

Meet the Chicago high school students who have been digging for Mammoths in South Dakota, and working with paleontology superstar Paul Sereno at Project Exploration.

Need some ideas for what to do this weekend? Chicago Tonight knows what is going on!

From a tiny shark tooth found in the Arctic to electronic tattoos that can monitor brain, heart and muscle activity, Neil Shubin joins us with a roundup of local scientific breakthroughs.

Our resident tour guide Geoffrey Baer discovers a whole new way to explore Chicago.

Was President Obama disrespected when he was forced to change the day of his speech to a joint session of Congress? Chicago Sun-Times' Washington Bureau Chief Lynn Sweet tells us what she’s heard from both sides of the story. Then, Eddie Arruza talks with a political analyst for his take on the latest partisan bickering.

Kankakee’s Mayor strongly denies that her city is taking sales tax revenues that belong in Cook County. Elizabeth Brackett has the story.

Oak Forest Hospital is undergoing a big transformation--and not everyone's happy with it. The head of the Cook County Health System is here to explain the major changes for the south suburban facility.

Hedy Weiss devours the latest version of Sweeney Todd to hit Chicago.  She reviews that and three more shows.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Phil Ponce on Chicago Tonight at 7:00 pm to talk about what he's done in office so far, and what's ahead.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel calls for reform of the Tax Increment Financing, or TIF program. A task force report calls for more transparency and oversight. Carole Brown, the head of that task force, joins us to lay out the plan.

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Driving Illinois tollways may soon take a bigger toll on your wallet. The Tollway Board just approved a massive toll increase. We hear from the Tollway's executive director.

From curious machines to handmade objects of beauty, the American Craft Expo takes place in Evanston this weekend. An expert from the fair joins us with a collection of artfully made items.

Are some airlines skirting the city sales tax? We look into that issue, plus the City of Chicago's tax lawsuit against some nearby counties.

Joking about history -- from the ancient Greeks to the Jersey Shore. Comedian Colin Quinn joins us to talk about his one-man show, directed by Jerry Seinfeld.

On the eve of his 100th day as Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel issues a list of accomplishments so far. But how much of his checklist is still incomplete? Eddie Arruza reports.

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His neighbors call him the flower man. But he's not planting tulips and daffodils at his suburban condo development. He has created what may be the most extensive native prairie garden at a residential complex. And experts say gardens like these can help slow climate change. Jay Shefsky has the story. 

A memorial on Ground Zero commemorating 9/11 opens in a few weeks. We talk with Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin, who got a sneak peek.

From a Chicago alley that’s still paved with wood blocks, to a cowpath among the skyscrapers in the downtown Loop, and other secret byways. Geoffrey Baer explores Chicago’s oddest and most interesting streets and alleys for Hidden Chicago.

Nearly 55 miles per gallon for every car? That's the deal between the Obama Administration and the nation's automakers. Is it doable and what technology is on the horizon? The head of transportation research at Argonne National Laboratory is here with some answers.

On Tuesday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Commissioner Bechara Choucair, M.D., released a new Public Health Agenda—Healthy Chicago—the City’s first comprehensive public health plan.

A new study out today by Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine diagnoses Chicago’s health, neighborhood by neighborhood. We speak with two of the report’s authors.

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As President Obama hit the road today to slam the partisanship in Congress, the final three members of the debt reduction "super committee" were named. Eddie Arruza and his panel take a look at who the 12 committee members are, and whether they'll be able to reach a consensus on spending cuts.