Stories by WTTW News

In celebration of our 30th anniversary, we revisit John Callaway’s interview with Harold Washington on April 24, 1984—the very first episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

City Council members move forward on a plan to ban plastic bags at grocery stores. Paris Schutz has the latest. 

Former top aide to Mayor Richard M. Daley, attorney Mara Georges joins Chicago Tonight to discuss the city’s ride-sharing controversy and more. View a graphic on ride-sharing companies in Chicago.

Melding songs and paintings is the latest project from Jon Langford, a native of Wales and veteran Chicago rocker who shows no signs of slowing down.

WTTW’s newest show takes you around town with well-known residents.  Hosts Odette Yousef and Mark Bazer tell us about the new WTTW series that starts on Friday, April 25.

We share what you had to say about recent stories when we read some of our viewer feedback. 

Chicago’s premiere live, nightly news program turns 30 today. We look back at the inaugural show and 30 years of keeping you connected with the city and its community.  

Wrigley Field – then Weeghman Park—hosted its first baseball game on April 23, 1914. A century later, Wrigley Field is home to the Chicago Cubs. Eddie Arruza joins us with latest on the day’s celebrations. View a timeline.

Some Wrigley Field neighbors are pushing back against the operation of the Chicago Cubs’ new remote parking lot. Ald. Ameya Pawar and community members say the free lot will attract rowdy fans, create a zoning issue. View a map of the new remote parking location.

There may be a painless way to solve pensions without raising property taxes that is sitting right before the mayor's eyes. Paris Schutz breaks it down for us. Read a response from Mayor Emanuel's office. 

In celebration of William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday, guests from Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Joffrey Ballet join us to talk about the enduring influence of the Bard.  Watch the trailer to WTTW's documentary, Our City, Our Shakespeare.

Chris Fischer of OCEARCH is a man who tracks great white sharks, enabling scientists to learn about the mating, migratory patterns of the oceans’ top predator. View a graphic of some of the sharks Fischer tracks.

Chicago homeowners may have a familiar voice among their phone messages tonight: Republican Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner. Paris Schutz has the latest on how pension reform has become political. 

Meet Chicago’s master of the mandolin. Don Stiernberg joins us to talk about playing a traditional instrument in a modern way – and performs live in studio with his trio. View a web extra performance.

We share what you had to say about potential sites for the Barack Obama Presidential Library, The Lucas Cultural Arts Museum and a casino when we read some of our viewer feedback. 

While Chicago tries to fix its pension mess, dozens of suburban mayors warn of their own pension doomsday. Paris Schutz has the latest. 

Chicago is vying for three major institutions: the Barack Obama Presidential Library, The Lucas Cultural Arts Museum and a casino. We’ll take a closer look at possible locations and what urban planning issues Chicago faces with such enormous projects. Vote in a poll.

Over the years, the Archdiocese of Chicago has lost a number of its church buildings to the wrecking ball. But a few that were slated for demolition managed to survive. Among them is the Shrine of Christ the King on Chicago's south side. View a slideshow.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the pervasive patronage at Metra, the CTA plans for an L overpass at Belmont. Watch the web extra video.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the week's top headlines.

Illinois taxpayers may be on the hook for $100 million to bring an Obama Presidential Library and Museum to Chicago. Paris Schutz has the story.

Rep. Randy Hultgren joins us to discuss the Affordable Care Act, election year politics, Common Core education standards, and what he’s doing to try and combat rising heroin abuse in Illinois.

We share what you had to say about Mayor Emanuel's recently passed pension reform deal when we read some of our viewer feedback. 

As a WTTW viewer, we know you care about our community and its issues. As part of the Chicago Community Trust initiative, On the Table, 10,000 people across the region will share a meal on May 12 to discuss ideas about the future of the Chicago region. 

The recently passed pension reform deal paves the way for big property tax increases. But will aldermen be able to stomach the vote to raise them, or will they defy Mayor Rahm Emanuel and scuttle his pension reform deal? We talk with Ald. John Arena (45th), Ald. Will Burns (4th), and Ald. George Cardenas (12th). 

We share what you had to say about the possibility of a Star Wars museum in Chicago and concerns that Cook County's employee computer system may have been hacked in tonight's viewer feedback.