Stories by WTTW News

You may not think "hot gossip" and Chicago go together, but our panel of scoop-hungry journalists beg to differ. We get the latest scoop on celebrities and business elites from some of Chicago's most plugged-in gossip bloggers and columnists. Showbiz Shelly These Boots Are Made For Stalking Chicago Tribune's Melissa Harris

Betty Loren Maltese...is back! Having completed a seven-year prison term for corruption, today the former Cicero town president moved into a West Side halfway house. Eddie Arruza tells us what lies ahead for Loren-Maltese and the hefty debt she still owes society.

State Senator James Meeks wants to reform education in Illinois, in the form of more vouchers and less power for local school councils. Meeks will discuss his controversial education plan with Carol Marin.

Would it make you feel better or worse if a few savvy investors were making big money from this winter's big snowfalls? Kris Kridel joins us with the details of that story, plus the rest of the week's business news.

Kids with autism rarely, if ever, have a chance to go to the theater or on a camping trip. But a Chicago theater company has found a way for them to do both at the same time. Eddie Arruza tells us about the Red Kite Project.

The Blackhawks are riding a four-game winning streak into the Olympic break. We talk to Hawks President John McDonough about the remarkable year they're having, and how he's helped administer what Forbes Magazine calls "the greatest sports-business turnaround ever."

These days, we're seeing lots of people commuting on their bikes in the winter. We meet a few of them.

We hear what you have to say about some of our recent stories when we read our viewer mail.

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: Democrats are jockeying for the Lieutenant Governor's ballot spot vacated by Scott Lee Cohen; Mayor Daley orders a budget review of the Chicago Police Department and wants to give the city's Inspector General the power to investigate aldermen; CTA service cuts are making for a longer commute; the Chicago Auto Show rolls into town; and former White Sox slugger Frank Thomas announces his retirement. Guests:

Joel Weisman sits down with longtime Chicago Blackhawks announcer Pat Foley.

In the wake of the Scott Lee Cohen debacle, Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan filed legislation to amend the state's constitution to abolish the office of Lt. Governor. We take a closer look at the proposal.

Mayor Daley has ordered all city employees to take 24 unpaid days off this year in an attempt to help balance the city budget. So why are he and the aldermen not required to do the same? Reporter Dan Mihalopoulos will be here with the Chicago News Cooperative story.

We meet a Haitian-born American who is determined to keep his father's dream alive. New Trier Haiti Project

How can we avoid the emotional and financial distress brought on by divorce? We talk to a Chicago family court judge who has written a new book called The Good Karma Divorce.

We take a look at rarely seen photos of the city's blossoming folk music scene of the 1960s. Chicago Folk: Images of the Sixties Music Scene 50th Annual University of Chicago Folk Festival

What has 14 lanes, is prone to traffic jams, and is cut down the middle by rapid transit? Geoffrey Baer solves that riddle in tonight's edition of Ask Geoffrey. Virtual World's Columbian Exposition created by the UCLA Urban Simulation Team Chicago Expressways "Who was Dan Ryan" -- ChicagoNow

We hear what you have to say about some of our recent stories when we read our viewer mail.

Eddie Arruza has the latest in the Blagojevich case as the former Governor goes to court.

Nightly Business Report brings us some of the highlights of the Chicago Auto Show.

We find out about the 3.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked northern Illinois early this morning. Illinois Earthquake Information -- The United States Geological Survey

We take up the debate over whether or not the U.S. military should end the ban on gays serving. Servicemembers United "Vets Against Repeal Of Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Join The Fight" -- RFFM.org "Obama Reaffirms Desire to End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'" -- U.S. Department of Defense

From a young Mike Ditka to Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy, we look at colorful photos of historic moments in Chicago from photojournalist extraordinaire Art Shay. Art Shay True Colors exhibit at Thomas Masters Gallery More information on Art Shay including links, reviews and additional photos

We go behind the scenes at The Second City's newest production, Rush Limbaugh! The Musical.

We have a performance from Grammy-winning harmonica player Howard Levy, who founded his own record label and just launched an online harmonica school. Howard Levy Harmonica School

Chicago officials want to end the code of silence that keeps witnesses to violence from coming forward. Eddie Arruza tells us about a new PSA campaign that involves the parents of murdered young people.

City Hall is bracing for major reform. Chicago's Inspector General would be allowed to investigate City Council members under a new proposal unveiled by Mayor Daley. Elizabeth Brackett sits down with a panel of aldermen for their thoughts.