Stories by Paris Schutz

Ground is set to break on a major transformation that will turn an abandoned railway into a three mile-long elevated park. Chicago Tonight has exclusive details about the final plan. Read an article and view a slideshow.

Hillary Clinton announces she will join her family’s charitable foundation and champion children’s and women’s issues, as well as economic development. She made the announcement Thursday morning at the Clinton Global Initiative America conference in Chicago. Read an article and watch a live feed for a recap of the event.

Former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley is officially exploring a run for Illinois governor in 2014. Daley announced Tuesday in a web video that he has formed an exploratory committee for the race. Watch the video and read reaction from other potential gubernatorial candidates.

A bill that paves the way for high-level horizontal fracking in Illinois cleared an important hurdle.

Almost half of the Chicago City Council has signed on in support to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s parking meter changes, barely one day after the voluminous amendment was introduced to them.

Digital, interactive billboards may soon be coming to dozens, if not hundreds of pieces of street furniture in some of the most pedestrian-heavy areas of the city.

Are unmanned flying drones an effective public safety tool for local government or an Orwellian invasion of privacy? Paris Schutz has the story, as the drone debate heats up in Illinois.

A group of aldermen is calling for tougher oversight over the mayor’s office.

Chicago Public Schools Chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett and the School Board faced angry parents for the first time since the announcement that 54 schools would close. Paris Schutz has the latest.

Illinois could be sitting at the precipice of a major oil boom, but at what cost? Paris Schutz goes inside the heated debate over the controversial extraction method known as "fracking."

Residents pay for water, but religious leaders say their organizations should not. Paris Schutz has more on why the issue has brought all faiths together.

Former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and wife Sandi co-conspired to divert $750,000 in campaign money for personal use, according to an information filed today against the former congressman by the Washington D.C. U.S. Attorney.

City Council passed much-debated and controversial new ethics rules today by a unanimous vote. Even aldermen who were disappointed at the final, watered-down rules still voted yes.  But the mayor said he didn’t agree with the final outcome.

A committee of aldermen dealt a blow today to the mayor’s latest attempt at ethics reform aimed in part at strengthening oversight of City Council. 

An ethics bill that would make it easier for the City Council’s watchdog to investigate aldermen has been watered down in the face of an aldermanic revolt.

A state representative hasn't paid rent on her district office in more than 10 years. So why are some top Democratic party officials trying to keep it that way? Paris Schutz has the story.

A message to those interested and qualified in being appointed 7th ward alderman: the mayor will start accepting applications online next week.

How does the CTA keep its trains and buses operating on time? How prepared is it for a major incident like a terrorist attack? We get a rare look inside the transit system's high-tech nerve center.

The fiscal cliff is averted, but your tax bill will likely go up. We have more on what the deal means for Illinois taxpayers.

The Shedd Aquarium unveils three giant new Bighead Asian Carp. But just where were they caught, and what does it tell us about the battle to keep these invaders away from the Great Lakes? 

"Where's the beer?" Those were among the first words uttered by Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk after climbing 37 floors of the Willis Tower.  It was Kirk's much-anticipated first appearance in front of the public and reporters since suffering a debilitating stroke on January 21st that left him partially physically impaired.

More potential victims of torture under convicted former police commander Jon Burge come forward and say they want justice. Paris Schutz has the story.

Which Chicago City Council member has missed the most meetings and what does it mean? Paris Schutz has the story.

Oops! To the Derrick Smith campaign’s credit, the flyer came with a thin, white, strip of adhesive paper to cover the glaring typo.

Out of the detention center and back into the community. We go inside Cook County’s new “tough love” approach to juvenile justice.

It's not the Olympics, but it's close. We see how a small pocket of DuPage County is preparing for an onslaught of fans and international media as the 2012 Ryder Cup kicks off at Medinah Country Club.