Stories by WTTW News

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists debate the ramifications of the Chicago Public Schools’ budget deficit, and whether Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett have credibility with the voters. Watch the web extra conversation.

Illinois is now the 20th state to allow medical marijuana. Gov. Pat Quinn signed House Bill 1 on Thursday, which legalizes the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Paris Schutz has the details.

In the heart of Chicago, shaded by the afternoon shadow of Michigan Avenue skyscrapers, watered by the mist of Buckingham Fountain wafting through the air, is a farm. The surprising site is one of many small, sustainable, organic farms that have been created and are run by Growing Power, an organization that teaches farming and entrepreneurial skills to kids in Cabrini Green, Altgeld Gardens, Roosevelt Square and other places around the city. We take a look inside. Read an interview with Monte Henige, CEO of Tru Fragrance, a fragrance development company that uses ingredients from Growing Power Chicago in their products.

Chicago Shakespeare’s production of The Comedy of Errors began a tour of 18 Chicago parks. We talk with Chicago Shakespeare’s Executive Director Criss Henderson and actress Lanise Antoine Shelley. Learn more about the program and view a map.

Gov. Pat Quinn responds to the lawsuit filed against him by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton. The two legislative leaders filed suit Tuesday challenging the governor's decision to withhold paychecks from lawmakers until they come up with a pension reform solution. Paris Schutz has the details. Read Quinn's statement.

Humboldt Park neighbors come together to get gangs off the street corner. Elizabeth Brackett has the story.

We revisit a conversation with Curb Your Enthusiasm star Jeff Garlin about his new independent film Dealin’ with Idiots, a youth baseball comedy. Watch the film trailer and a web extra conversation with Garlin.

The CTA says it has saved $10 million this year, but it faces a host of other financial problems and the rollout of the new Ventra fare card system. Will fares go up? Paris Schutz has the latest.

Sen. Dick Durbin says the U.S. House of Representatives' bill to cut funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by 80 percent would severely impact programs created to address ecological problems facing the Great Lakes. Programs to keep Asian carp out of the lakes would be slashed, among others. Elizabeth Brackett has the details. Read a fact sheet.

Chicago artist Leo Segedin, 86, is still painting about his childhood on the west side, and dancing into old age. We revisit Jay Shefsky's profile. View a slideshow of some of Segedin's favorite pieces, handpicked by the artist himself.

We share your thoughts about the fire marshal's proposal to change sprinkler code requirements in Illinois in tonight's Viewer Feedback.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the week's top headlines. Check out our weekly roundup with links to all of our stories from this week.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists break down how Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel are responding to the CPS budget crisis. Watch the web extra conversation.

Did Illinois business leaders lobby ratings agencies to lower the state's bond rating? Paris Schutz has the latest details on a bizarre twist in the pension debate.

You might remember her as the devilish Vera on Downton Abbey. But Irish singer, songwriter, and actress Maria Doyle Kennedy also has a heavenly singing voice. She joins us for a conversation and performance.

Ald. Joe Moore responds to ethics violations alleged by Legislative Inspector General Faisal Khan. Watch the web extra video.

Illinois Rep. Deb Mell is officially sworn in to her new City Council job as alderman of the 33rd ward and her father Ald. Dick Mell's replacement. Paris Schutz has the details on that, and response from Ald. Joe Moore about ethics investigations news we broke on Sunday. Watch web extra video.

Chicago Public Schools introduced its 2014 school budget on Wednesday amid protesting parents and teachers. Officials say they will fill the $1 billion budget gap with $68 million in classroom cuts and the use of $700 million from reserve funds. Elizabeth Brackett has the details.

School closings, ethics probes and more; we have the latest City Council news from our aldermanic roundtable.

We take a look at Chicago’s rebounding housing market. How does the city compare with the rest of the county? And will this upward trend continue? Elizabeth Brackett and her guests discuss the issue.

It's official! Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton welcomed a baby boy in London. Author, blogger and local Brit-commentator Toni Hargis joins us with details about the hoopla surrounding the birth of the royal baby.

Chicagoan Allegra Rosenberg, 17, has become a YouTube sensation, writing songs beloved by fans of Doctor Who, BBC Sherlock and other off-beat pop culture hits. We revist Jay Shefsky's profile. Watch music videos.

Chicago cop-turned-actor Dennis Farina died today at age 69. Watch web extra video of Farina from WTTW's archives.

Sen. Dick Durbin urges all law enforcement agencies to use the federal database resources to track guns found at crime scenes. Elizabeth Brackett has the story. Read Durbin's letter.

We share what you had to say about Ald. Joe Moore caught in an ethics investigation and on the Better Government Association's hospital investigation in tonight’s Viewer Feedback.