Stories by Hedy Weiss

At the Symphony Center, a palpable sense of relief and joy as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra marked its return to the stage after a bruising seven-week strike.

Nearly 6 inches of rain has fallen in and around Chicago since last weekend, which in years past might have caused significant flooding in some neighborhoods. But that hasn’t happened, city officials said.

Watch the May 2, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Later this month, Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot will move into the executive suite at City Hall. She’ll inherit a city her predecessor says is better off now than when he took office some eight years ago.

Maps are more convenient than ever for finding the shortest route to your dinner reservation, but what do they tell us about the history of our city and state?

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas offers some last-minute tips ahead of the annual tax sale.

In her book, “Bring the War Home,” Kathleen Belew argues that the white power movement is more organized than previously thought.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says allowing the state to tax richer people at a higher rate is the only way to return financial stability to Illinois. We speak with supporters and opponents of the governor’s top legislative priority.

Dozens of old glass negatives found in the attic of a North Side home lead to a surprising discovery, just days before the house was scheduled to be torn down. 

Mikah Meyer’s cross-country trip came to an end this week when he ascended the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. He’s the first person to visit all National Park Service sites in one continuous trip – and is challenging stereotypes along the way.

How do you bring the music back to the stage of Symphony Center in the wake of an agonizing seven-week strike by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra? With two of the world’s most formidable virtuosos.

A day after walking off the job and 10 hours of bargaining, striking employees at City Colleges of Chicago announced they had reached a tentative agreement with the administration.

Retired appellate judge Sheila O’Brien is calling for a special prosecutor to investigate what she has called the “mishandling” of the Jussie Smollett case. On Thursday, she accused the presiding judge of a possible conflict of interest.

Watch the May 1, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Unseasonably cold weather in Chicago has delayed the start of spring – at least in terms of planting, says organic gardener Jeanne Nolan. Here are some tips for your spring crops.

What’s it like to date around while staying married? A Chicago writer shares her experiences diving into the world of consensual non-monogamy.

Some state lawmakers are scrambling to pass a bill legalizing recreational marijuana this month. Others are urging for a slowdown. We debate the pros and cons of legalization.

Hundreds of full- and part-time employees walked off the job Wednesday. They’ve been working without a contract for nearly three years and are demanding a livable wage.

For Chicago pet owners, finding a lost dog or cat could now be just a few clicks away, thanks to an app built using facial recognition technology.

Colorful kites, vinyl records, adoptable animals and antique maps usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

McDonald’s turned to a sure thing in the first quarter, bacon, and it paid off. Global sales rose 5.4% at stores open at least a year, a key metric of a retailer’s health. 

Fox Entertainment said Tuesday that Jussie Smollett will not return to the series “Empire” next season in the wake of allegations by Chicago officials the actor lied about a racially motivated attack.

Watch the April 30, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

The iconic Heartland Cafe, which for more than 40 years sat at the corner of Glenwood and Lunt avenues in Rogers Park, is being torn down. We look back at its history as a community hub.

If you’re expecting to receive Social Security benefits, brace yourself. Costs for Social Security are projected to exceed the program’s income next year, which means beneficiaries may not get all that’s been promised to them. 

From brain mapping to climate modeling and beyond: the potential impact of a new supercomputer being developed in the Chicago area.