Stories by Brandis Friedman

Once a neighborhood unwelcoming to families of color, Marquette Park is not only a more diverse community today, but one that's now home to a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial.

A new bill passed late last month aims to cut higher education costs and allow Chicago Public Schools students to begin earning college credits sooner.

Watch the August 4, 2016 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

You've probably heard of a poetry slam, but this weekend, Fermilab will present its fifth annual Physics Slam in downtown Chicago. Learn more.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to slap a tax on water and sewer bills. We take a closer look at the proposal with a panel of aldermen. 

The city of Chicago expands testing for lead in the water supply. Find out what you can do to make sure your drinking water is safe.

Investigators at the Independent Police Review Authority and the union that represents them are pushing back against the mayor's call to scrap and replace the agency.

Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. marched through Marquette Park to protest housing segregation and fight for equal rights. On Saturday, hundreds of area residents will trace a seven-block stretch of King’s march. Details on that and more in this weekend's roundup.

Monday’s release of proposed 2017 health insurance premium rate increases for coverage offered through the state’s Obamacare exchange induced sticker shock among some industry experts, with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois seeking increases from 23 to 45 percent for its individual health care plans.

Hear what viewers had to say about our story on DePaul University's decision to bar a conservative speaker when we read feedback from the "Chicago Tonight" website, and our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Two red panda cubs at the Lincoln Park Zoo are born to love the Chicago Cubs. Like their two siblings born the previous year, the names of the cubs, revealed Tuesday, were inspired by Wrigley Field.

After the big property tax hit, another new tax may be on the way for weary Chicagoans. Find out how much it might cost and why the mayor says it's necessary.

The secret got out last week, but the Obama Foundation made it official at a news conference on Wednesday: Jackson Park will be the main home of the 44th U.S. president's library.

Illinois may become the ninth state since 2000 to adopt a new education funding system, and state leaders are hoping a new reform commission can figure out how its current formula can be fixed.

Watch the August 3, 2016 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Important research is happening locally and across the country in an attempt to control the Zika virus.

The singer-songwriter and two-time Grammy award-winner joins us in performance and conversation.

Students across the political spectrum are angry with DePaul University's decision not to allow a conservative writer and commentator to speak at an on-campus event.

Despite a spate of recent reports, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources says that reintroducing alligator gar into Illinois' waterways will not prevent Asian carp from reaching Lake Michigan.

The smartphone game has taken Chicago by storm. We hunt down and follow some of the area’s most dedicated players, including one who hopes to turn his hobby into a career.

President Barack Obama reiterates his support for the Trans Pacific Partnership. But the trade deal has strong opposition. What's at the core of the agreement that could shape U.S. trade relations in the 21st century?

After years of waiting, Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood gets a spectacular and much needed arts and recreation center.

The building that thousands of cars drive under every day will be turned into commercial office space. Looking at the future of a building that's been empty since 1997. 

Watch the August 2, 2016 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Can state lawmakers craft a constitutional fix for the Illinois public pension problem? We talk with one man who has a plan.

The Chicago Sun-Times theater critic reviews a Pulitzer prize-winning play at Steppenwolf Theatre, a pair of one-man shows and two Tony award-winning actresses.