Stories by WTTW News

Rising tensions within the Chicago City Council bring warnings of a new round of council wars. All at a time when a watchdog group says the city is teetering on the brink of a fiscal crisis. We hear what some aldermen have to say.

Prosecutors respond to Rod Blagojevich's appeal, asking that he serves his entire 14-year sentence. Elizabeth Brackett has the story.

Throughout the 1950s, south suburban families saddled up and rode to the Oak Lawn Round-Up Days. What happened to the festival? Geoffrey Baer rustles up the answer in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Gov. Pat Quinn introduces Paul Vallas to be his "second banana." Paris Schutz has the story. View a graphic of all of the candidates for Illinois governor along with their chosen running mates.

Embattled Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios joins Elizabeth Brackett for a one-on-one interview. View a timeline of his political career.

A new ruling says New York's One World Trade Center will be the nation's tallest building when it is opens next year, swiping the title from Chicago's Willis Tower. Geoffrey Baer has the story.

Dignitaries and top chefs come together to celebrate Charlie Trotter. Paris Schutz has the story.

We take a look at a documentary that follows five war veterans, and their new mission to heal after combat through fly fishing. Not Yet Begun to Fight airs tonight on WTTW World. We speak with the documentary's Executive Producer, Steve Platcow.

James “Big Cat” Williams joins Ann Kreiter to discuss the Bears’ loss to the Lions, coach Marc Trestman’s decision to keep an injured Jay Cutler in the game, and how the Bears can regroup in time to face the Ravens. Watch a web extra conversation with Big Cat.

We share what you had to say about Native American sports mascots and more in tonight’s viewer feedback.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel discuss Dominick’s exit from Chicago, and the roughly 5,600 employees about to get pink slips. Many of the Dominick’s stores anchor entire shopping centers. What impact will the vacancies have? And what effect will the gay marriage bill have on the next Republican primaries? Watch the web extra conversation.

Illinois Senators and Mayor Emanuel are demanding the new U.S. Attorney focus on combating Chicago street crime. But will that really help-- and what about political corruption? Paris Schutz and his panel take a look.

Chicago Tribune theater critic Chris Jones joins us to talk about his new book, Bigger, Brighter, Louder: 150 Years of Chicago Theater as Seen by Chicago Tribune Critics. Read excerpts from the book.

We share what you had to say about forest preserve restoration in Cook County, and the newly announced City Council Budget Office in tonight’s viewer feedback.

Same-sex marriage passed both chambers on Tuesday in Springfield and is now waiting to be signed by Governor Quinn. State Representative Greg Harris, one of the key sponsors of the bill, joins us from the Chicago Sun-Times Springfield bureau with the latest.

Going into the final week of the veto session in Springfield, the big ticket items on the docket were pension reform, same-sex marriage and mandatory minimums. Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney joins us with the latest details.

Just how long have the antique-looking Chicago streetlights been burning? Geoffrey Baer reveals the age of these beauties in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

The Illinois House narrowly approved the same-sex marriage bill that passed in the senate earlier this year. Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney joins us to with the latest.

Influential chef Charlie Trotter, whose culinary skills and eponymous Chicago restaurant became world famous, died today at the age of 54. We take a look back at his celebrated career and the impact he had on the world of fine cuisine with three chefs who trained under Trotter. Watch a web extra video from our archives.

We look at the contribution Chef Charlie Trotter made to the Chicago fine dining scene with journalist Louisa Chu, food contributor for WBEZ and host of weekly podcast, Chewing the Fat, writer David Tamarkin, media director for Chef Rick Bayless and editor of Middlewest magazine, and Chicago magazine executive editor Jennifer Tanaka.  

Chicago Transit Authority and Ventra officials promise a quick fix to the new Ventra system. How? Paris Schutz has the details.

In what turned out to be a battle of backup quarterbacks, Josh McCown and the Chicago Bears beat the Packers and secured a share of first place in the division. James “Big Cat” Williams joins Ann Kreiter to break down the Bears improbable road win.

The Legislative Veto session is winding down. If something is to get done this year on the big ticket items like pension reform, marriage equality and mandatory minimum prison sentences for gun offenders, it has to happen in the next three days. Which of these will get done and which will get put off yet again? Paris Schutz has the details.

This year, for the first time in this country, more poor people live in suburbs than in American cities. Here in the Chicago region, the number of suburban poor increased 99% over the past decade. Brandis Friedman has the story of how some are confronting these challenges.

Author Rich Cohen joins us to talk about Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football, his new book that captures the heart of the 1985 Monsters of Midway. Read an excerpt.