Stories by Rebecca Palmore

Salute the season with an authentic Oktoberfest celebration, get crafty in Wicker Park, gear up for the Bears, stay up late for an all-night concert of classical Indian music and more this weekend.

The rank-and-file members of the Chicago Teachers Union have already approved a strike, but the union is planning a second vote. Find out why.

Architecture critic Blair Kamin on the future redevelopment of the Tribune Tower and the rise of a new Jeanne Gang-designed addition to the Chicago skyline.

Aldermen are set to vote to raise water taxes by 30 percent to fix city pensions. But new analysis shows it won't be nearly enough, and that has some council members saying they were duped by the mayor.

Watch the Sept. 7, 2016 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Hear from state lawmakers about where remap reform goes after a recent proposal was shot down by a divided Illinois Supreme Court. 

Are some wealthy residents of Cook County taking advantage of laws meant for the most vulnerable? We discuss the issue with a Chicago Sun-Times watchdog.

Students at Chicago Public Schools have steadily improved their attendance and on-track-to-graduate rates while trimming back their annual dropout rate over the past five years, according to a new district progress report.

As homicide rates in Chicago soar, a new street festival looks to highlight the positive side of a South Side community that often makes headlines for crime.

Breast cancer patients and survivors often report forgetfulness and difficulty focusing after chemotherapy. A recent study analyzes these symptoms, commonly referred to as “chemo brain.”

A new bacterial disease infecting corn crops has been confirmed in Illinois, but researchers know very little about the disease or what impact it could have on the agricultural industry.

For the second year in a row, Chicago Public Schools begins the school year without a teachers contract. Can a deal be struck soon?

Watch the Sept. 6, 2016 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

A look into the world of art glass paperweights as we preview an upcoming auction from a very famous collection.

After another violent holiday weekend, Superintendent Eddie Johnson issues a call for help to community members and African-American lawmakers. What is he asking for, and will it help reverse this year's spike in violence?

Online behemoth Amazon will open a brick-and-mortar bookstore in Lakeview next year. What this could mean for independent bookstores and publishers. 

A new book looks at pivotal moments in the history of Steppenwolf Theatre. We hear from the author and a longtime ensemble member.

Phyllis Schlafly, the conservative leader who helped derail the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and also fought against communism and abortion rights, died Monday of cancer in Ladue, Missouri, near St. Louis.

The State Board of Elections computer hack may have been smaller than first thought. Now it seems the personal information of only 90,000 Illinois voters was compromised. How safe is voter information? We get the latest.

Classes resumed Tuesday for students across Chicago, but many of the 500-plus teachers laid off in August could be left outside the classroom this school year.

Giddy on up to North Avenue Beach this weekend to watch the “sport of kings” at the Qatar Airways Chicago Beach Polo Cup.

Nearly three out of four seniors within Chicago Public Schools earned their diplomas in 2016 – a district record – as graduation rates increased across neighborhood, charter and traditional high schools.

Field Museum archaeologists made an unexpected find while excavating an the site of an ancient city in southern Mexico.

Our summer series of politically inspired cocktails has come to an end but goes out with a bang as we look back at a man who encompassed just about everything wrong with Chicago politics – longtime alderman Fred Bruno Roti.

A new transit facility aimed at improving connections between trains and buses at Union Station is set to open Sunday, city officials announced this week.