Stories by Paul Caine

Members of Chicago's Muslim and LGBTQ communities are grappling with the fallout from Sunday's attack at Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in Orlando that left a reported 49 dead and 53 injured. We speak with a local Muslim interfaith youth leader and a former employee of Pulse.

“Illinois must meet its primary function” of funding education, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said during an interview with Paris Schutz. Hear the full conversation.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel joins “Chicago Tonight” for a one-on-one interview with Paris Schutz on Tuesday. What are your questions for the mayor? Share them with us.

The rise of far right wing groups in Europe and the United States: What's fueling their popularity?

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner blasts Democrats for failing to pass a budget before the end of the spring legislative session. Where does Illinois go from here?

Health care experts have long warned that the effectiveness of antibiotics has been declining due to overprescription by doctors and also because of the use of antibiotics in raising livestock for human consumption.

What our age may or may not say about our health, why some people may be “hardwired” to experience chronic pain, and a possible explanation for the ice geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus. Rabiah Mayas joins “Chicago Tonight” to examine these stories and more. 

A brand new water treatment facility that takes wastewater and creates high-grade fertilizer comes online for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Stickney.

Chicago Public Schools is bracing to implement devastating budget cuts of as much as 25 percent, blaming what they say is a state school-funding formula that shortchanges Chicago children. So, is there any prospect of movement on the issue in Springfield?

Why is Puerto Rico sending addicts from the island to Chicago? WBEZ reporter Odette Yousef explains the story.

The Circuit Court of Cook County is creating a restorative justice community court that aims to empower victims and residents to help rehabilitate nonviolent adult offenders. The pilot program is expected to begin in early 2017 in North Lawndale.

The second annual festival promises a treat for the scientifically curious, whether your interests lie in psychology and neuroscience or Chicago's urban wildlife and HBO's popular "Game of Thrones" series.

Friends of the Parks has made some powerful enemies in maintaining its opposition to any lakefront site for the Lucas Museum. Is it worth losing the museum in order to maintain the sanctity of the lakefront?

A vote this week in the Illinois Senate could determine whether poorer school districts like Chicago Public Schools get more state money. But top Republicans say it’s a nonstarter because more affluent suburban school districts would lose money as a result. 

After Friends of the Parks declared its opposition to any lakefront site for the Lucas Museum, Mellody Hobson, wife of movie mogul George Lucas and board member of the Lucas Museum, said they were “seriously pursuing locations outside of Chicago.” 

Donald Trump has racked up a number of victories in his presidential bid, but he's also been a big winner in Chicago. Hear from the Sun-Times reporters who've uncovered Trump's big tax breaks thanks to Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward).

In court, Dennis Hastert admitted to being a sexual abuser. We hear from some professionals who treat victims of sexual predators about detecting the signs of child sexual abuse.

The Zika virus has been shown to cause microcephaly and other fetal brain abnormalities. We talk with a local woman, pregnant with her first child, who has been dealing with the terrifying possibility that she and her unborn child may have been exposed to the virus.

The country of Ecuador is recovering from a massive earthquake that hit on Saturday, leaving 350 people dead and thousands homeless. Last Thursday, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa joined “Chicago Tonight” to talk about the South American nation that straddles the equator.

As Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump blasts the delegate-selection process, we take a look at how it works on both sides of the aisle.

A recent report from the Obama administration warned that changes to the climate could lead to thousands more Americans dying prematurely every year from a variety of causes. Local scientist and professor Seth Darling discusses the challenges of climate disruption and shares his thoughts on creating a path to a sustainable future.

State Sen. Andy Manar plans to introduce a new school funding formula bill on the floor of the Illinois Senate on Wednesday. The bill, if passed, would shift money from wealthier districts to poorer districts—with cuts to wealthier districts being phased in over four years.

As Mayor Rahm Emanuel does an end-run around his own civilian police board to appoint a new interim police chief, “Chicago Tonight” asks a panel of aldermen to assess the power of the mayor in a post-Laquan McDonald world.

A new study shows why Neanderthal DNA can be bad for you. Astronomers capture visual evidence of an exploding star. And sometimes, it’s a bad idea to go to the Internet for help. Rabiah Mayas from the Museum of Science and Industry joins “Chicago Tonight” to examine these stories and more.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Anderson, who was recently appointed to lead the Chicago office, addresses concerns over data collection by the government, public corruption and the difficulties of policing after the Laquan McDonald shooting.