Stories by Alexandra Silets

Northwestern photography professor Pamela Bannos joins us to discuss her new book “Vivian Maier: A Photographer’s Life and Afterlife.”

The 2016 World Champions face elimination in Game 4 of the 2017 National League Championship Series. 

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on why the soda tax failed—and what’s next.

The despised soda tax is repealed after just two months. Another property tax hike passes. Mike Ditka denies racial oppression. And the Cubs gear up for another dramatic postseason.

Former IPRA and COPA chief Sharon Fairley officially tosses her hat into the race for attorney general. The latest on who she could face.

Eli Finkel studies relationships and marriage, and in his new book “The All-or-Nothing Marriage: How the Best Marriages Work,” he argues the best marriages of today are the best the world has ever known.

Barbara Flynn Currie was elected to the House in 1978. Twenty years later, House Speaker Michael Madigan tapped her to be the House majority leader—the first woman to hold the position. Currie discusses her decision to call it quits.

Some 143 million Americans may have had personal information stolen in the cyberattack of credit-reporting company Equifax. What you need to do immediately.

Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic Blair Kamin on the opening of The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and more.

The battle to repeal the Cook County soda tax is prolonged. Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich breaks his silence from behind bars. The hard sell for Amazon’s huge headquarters is underway. And the Cubs hang on to a division lead.

He has worn many hats throughout his extraordinary life. The Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and weatherman talks about his long and storied career.

What part – if any – does global warming play in the intensity of hurricanes? And what infrastructure failures contribute to the utter loss and destruction during extreme weather?

The soda tax repeal vote approaches as Toni Preckwinkle faces an ad blitz and sagging polls. School starts with undocumented students fearful. And the Bears kick off the season. 

The state’s education secretary said Gov. Bruce Rauner agreed with 90 percent of the education funding bill known as SB1. Then he vetoed it. We discuss education funding reform with Beth Purvis.

The Illinois House Republican leader speaks with Carol Marin about the school funding compromise and other battles in Springfield.

It took three roll call votes Monday before an education funding bill passed in the Illinois House. In the end, there was still division on both sides of the aisle. We speak to lawmakers who voted for and against the measure.

A woman who says she had underage sex with Grammy Award winning performer R. Kelly is breaking her silence. Veteran music journalist Jim DeRogatis joins us with details.

The Cook County sweetened beverage tax has had a challenging rollout, but Toni Preckwinkle doesn’t appear to be backing down. And she’s found a deep-pocketed supporter of the tax who’s helping with a media campaign.

Adler Planetarium astrophysicist Lucianne Walkowicz joins us from the eclipse epicenter in Carbondale. 

Rauner slams Trump’s response to the violence in Charlottesville. The battle over school funding ramps up. Lawmakers try to stamp out the soda tax. And the Cubs hold a slim lead in the National League Central division. 

Former U.S. attorneys weigh in on the new nominee for the Northern District of Illinois, John Lausch.

With tensions still high in Springfield, we talk with two lawmakers who are resigning from the legislature.

A new soda tax angers many Cook County consumers. The governor vetoes part of the school funding reform bill. And a nasty outfield collision injuries White Sox rookies.

Should parents be held responsible if they know their kids have guns? We speak to Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) about a new ordinance.

A bipartisan coalition of 43 House members, including three from Illinois, said Monday they’ve come up with a compromise plan to stabilize the health care market. What happens next?

Despite Gov. Bruce Rauner’s demands that the school spending bill be sent to him this week, Democrats say they’ll give it to him on Monday. In Chicago, officials are expanding gunshot detecting technology to more high-crime areas.