Stories by Alexandra Silets

"Failure is just not an option here," the Independent Police Review Authority chief said to Carol Marin during Monday's interview. "I believe that all the invested agencies involved here, the police department, the mayor's office, state's attorney's office – everybody understands that. We have to make this work, and I'm committed to making this work."

The governor unveils a plan he says will save taxpayers billions every year. But, as with everything else, can he get it through the General Assembly? Paris Schutz brings us more on that and whether or not the governor supports the recall of Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Oxford Dictionaries picked an emoji. Merriam-Webster picked the suffix "–ism." What's your nomination for the word of the year? 

A former employee of Chicago's Field Museum accused of stealing more than $900,000 from the museum pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to embezzling over $375,000.

An annual report from CPS Inspector General Nick Schuler cites numerous cases of students who live in Chicago suburbs enrolling in the city's elite selective enrollment schools.

Explore the grand story of the ancient Greeks and their influence on modern culture as we go inside the Field Museum's new exhibition “The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great."

In the 1980s, women in Turkey weren't supposed to have adventurous lives. After initially trying to meet the expectations of others, Ozge Samanci finally realized her true calling was to be an artist. She tells her coming-of-age story in her new graphic memoir "Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up In Turkey."

Matt Forte provided his usual dose of highlights. But the result was all too familiar – another home loss for the Bears. James "Big Cat" Williams joins us with his season-ending analysis. 

We share what you had to say about some of our recent stories when we read viewer feedback from the "Chicago Tonight" website, and our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Charlie Brown, robots, and mammoths – check 'em out before they disappear in 2016. 

The city of Chicago’s Law Department on Thursday released thousands of internal emails exchanged between city officials regarding the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. The emails provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration reacted to the shooting that took place on Oct. 20, 2014 and its aftermath.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announces what he calls "major" new police reforms, including the use of more Tasers, in the wake of last weekend's deadly police shooting.

Spots to ring in the New Year and a peek at what else is going on this weekend–including the final days of the Chicago Architecture Biennial.

The former head of the Chicago Public Schools gives an emotional final speech in Chicago as U.S. Secretary of Education. The subject of his talk and where he gave it may hint at his future.

John Murray is hoping to create a New Year's Eve tradition in Chicago that will rival the annual Times Square party in New York. Murray joins us to provide an inside scoop on Chi-Town Rising.

Surrealism is the focus of a show at the Museum of Contemporary Art. We'll get a tour of the weird and the wonderful.

Comedy legend John Cleese talks about the real-life inspiration for "Fawlty Towers" – and tells us why he doesn't think one of his more famous Monty Python skits is all that funny.

In this encore edition of Ask Geoffrey, our local history expert Geoffrey Baer revisits a Streeterville puppet show, examines underground architecture on the Blue Line and digs deep into the history of Montrose Beach.

After being closed almost three months due to the state’s budget crisis, the Illinois State Museum has recently lost more staff members as it tiptoes ever closer to losing its accreditation in 2016.

The former Chicago police officer appeared in court this morning for his arraignment in the Laquan McDonald case. Paris Schutz brings us the latest. 

Last weekend's police-involved shooting has raised questions about whether Chicago officers are equipped to deal with mental health crises. We discuss the crisis intervention training offered to local police officers with two mental health advocates.

The veteran journalist who was anchor and managing editor of "Nightline" on ABC from 1980 until 2005 discusses his new book about the risk of cyberattack facing the power grid in the United States and the inadequate measures being taken to protect it.

The hit Netflix show "House of Cards" has a devoted following, but did you know that one of the people responsible for it is an Evanston native and Northwestern alum? Laura Eason, executive story editor of "House of Cards," takes us behind the scenes of the popular drama.