Stories by WTTW News

A new book details the life of one of the most enduring artists in popular music: Mavis Staples.

A remarkable, free music program in a Chicago Public School is changing lives. We revisit Jay Shefsky's story.

We share what you had to say about our recent forum featuring high school students from the Mikva Challenge questioning the GOP candidates for Illinois governor in tonight's viewer feedback.

The Chicago School Board voted Wednesday to approve seven new charter schools in the city. Many parents, as well as the Chicago Teachers Union, have said they will protest any expansion following the closing last year of 50 neighborhood schools. We have the latest on the vote and reaction to it. View a graphic and a map on the new proposed charter schools.

Senate President John Cullerton joins us to talk pensions, the upcoming session and midterm elections.

After state lawmakers finally passed pension reform in December, Illinoisans could be forgiven for assuming the state is now on track to balance its budget. But a report out this week says the reforms don't do nearly enough to fix the state's budget gap. Two of the authors of the report join us to discuss their findings and the implications for the state.

Tio Hardiman joins us, along with his running mate, to talk about his run for Illinois governor. View a timeline of his career.

We revisit the story of Chicago artist Jason Seiler who scored the biggest commission of his career: a painting of Pope Francis for the cover of TIME magazine’s Person of the Year issue. View a slideshow of Seiler's artwork.

A street near Soldier Field honors a fallen World War II hero. Geoffrey Baer has that soldier's story, and he answers your questions in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Thousands of pages of secret church documents are released as part of a court settlement showing how the Archdiocese of Chicago moved predator priests from parish to parish for years, exposing children to abuse. We meet the attorneys for the victims who fought to get the documents opened to the public. Read the detailed documents.

Were they violent terrorist conspirators or three angry young men entrapped by undercover cops? Paris Schutz has the details from opening day of the NATO 3 trial.

We find out what’s happening at the newly reopened Block Museum on the campus of Northwestern University, including a show of photographs by master photographer Edward Steichen and Polaroids by Andy Warhol. Watch a web extra video.

Students from the Mikva Challenge who questioned the Republican candidates for Illinois governor during our Monday forum share their thoughts in a written survey. Read their responses.

We are holding a special one-hour candidate forum, hosted by Phil Ponce, to give viewers an opportunity to meet the Republican candidates for Illinois governor. Chicago Tonight is partnering with the Mikva Challenge, a program that encourages Chicago youth to be active in the political process. During the forum, high school students from the Mikva Challenge will question the candidates about jobs, gun violence, education and more. View a slideshow and watch web extra videos.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists debate whether crying babies should dine at high-end restaurants. The hot topic was prompted by the recent tweet by Alinea owner Grant Achatz, who took to social media to share his dilemma. Also, they discuss the recent City Council action to ban e-cigarettes in restaurants. Watch the web extra video.

Chicago City Council approves the first infrastructure trust project but it's much smaller than initially sold. Paris Schutz has the story.

The lead actor in the cult classic Napoleon Dynamite, joins us to talk about the film and his career. Watch the film trailer.

We share what you had to say about City Council's regulation of e-cigarettes in tonight's viewer feedback.  

Has the Catholic church come clean? Archdiocesan officials speak at length about the release of documents outlining priest sex abuse. Paris Schutz has the details. View a graphic of incidents and allegations.

The Chicago City Council passes a ban to regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products. Carol Marin and her panel of aldermen weigh in on this issue, and get the latest from inside City Hall. View graphics on e-cigarette sales across the United States, and read an interview with a local doctor about the health risks and benefits.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle may soon have the authority to release nonviolent offenders from the chronically crowded Cook County Jail, after the County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the resolution giving her said authority. Brandis Friedman has the latest.

Billionaire Beanie Babies creator Ty Warner evades prison over his conviction of hiding money overseas. Paris Schutz explains why.

Chicago Board of Education’s Inspector General Jim Sullivan joins us to talk about his latest watchdog report detailing the waste, fraud and corruption he uncovered this year in the Chicago Public Schools. Read the full report.