Stories by Michael Lipkin

A new app from government data hounds, Open City, aims to make CPS admissions a little easier.

We continue our discussion with the four Democratic candidates vying for the 10th Congressional District in our web-exclusive video.

The Ravinia Festival is on its way again, with 15 weeks worth of classical, pop and jazz programming. We talk with the president and CEO.

We continue our discussion with the two Democratic candidates vying for the 8th Congressional District in our web-exclusive video.

Want to know how a Chicago Tonight package is produced? We take you behind the scenes of a recent story.

Need some ideas for what to do this weekend? Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on!

After 12 years in prison for his role in a murder, a Chicago man works to rebuild his life and his community. Jay Shefsky has the story.

Young poets and storytellers compete this week at the Louder Than a Bomb festival. We talk to the co-founder of the fest and one of its stars.

It's not often you can see a letter written by George Washington, a limited edition Barbie doll and Groucho Marx's autograph -- all in one place. Eddie Arruza visits a new exhibit at the Northwestern University library.

News stories written from tweets? We look at new technology that uses social media to report the news.

A new magazine called The Chicagoan is striving to be The New Yorker for the Midwest. We ask the editor and others whether this might be the dawn of a new era in Chicago's literary scene.

An obscure state law allowed former alderman and Cook County Commissioner William Beavers to more than double his city pension; and he did it legally. Carol Marin and her guests have the details.

Native American children struggle with traditional public education; their dropout rate is close to 40 percent. We look at one program that's trying to change that.

Need some ideas for what to do this weekend? Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on!

One day after his "day of reckoning" budget speech, Gov. Pat Quinn tells us what he expects from state lawmakers; and Republican Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford joins us to share his take on the governor's plan.

Harmonica wizard Howard Levy joins us with a performance and tells us about reuniting with Bela Fleck & The Flecktones.

We visit a treasure box of a museum in the western suburbs and find out about the immigrant who built it, one stone at a time.

Public outcry is growing over plans to shut down or shake up 16 Chicago Public Schools. Elizabeth Brackett has more on a day of protest. Then, Carol Marin talks with leaders from CPS and the Teachers Union.

Need some ideas for what to do this weekend? Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on!

The Chicago Teachers Union slams Chicago Public Schools administrators, and offer their own vision for the school system, including $700 million more in funding. Paris Schutz has the story.

We tell you about an organization that helps low-income residents prepare their tax returns for free.

Our science guy, Neil Shubin, joins us to talk about sea slug brains, a therapist app for your smartphone and more in Scientific Chicago.

We visit two exhibitions that explore a pair of art movements from the 1960s.

Need some ideas for what to do this weekend? Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on!

Does the so-called "turnaround" of an underperforming school really make it better? A new report from the University of Chicago has some answers. We hear from representatives of the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union.