Stories by WTTW News

We rediscover a suburban junior high school that's home to an amazing gallery of American artwork. We show you how students there get a head start in art. View a slideshow of artwork.

In tonight's Viewer Feedback, we share your reaction to the news that Chicago's Willis Tower will be stripped of its status as the tallest building in America, and your opinion on the FDA taking steps to ban trans fats.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists look at public officials’ international travel. Mayor Rahm Emanuel was in Mexico City recently. Mayor Richard M. Daley traveled quite a bit. Is it worth it to the city? And is the mayor accessible enough to the press? How is he different from his predecessor? Watch the web extra video.

After almost two years of confusion, the Chicago Infrastructure Trust is coming into focus. Paris Schutz has more on what it plans to fund, and how it purports to help the city’s bleak financial situation.

Rising tensions within the Chicago City Council bring warnings of a new round of council wars. All at a time when a watchdog group says the city is teetering on the brink of a fiscal crisis. We hear what some aldermen have to say.

Prosecutors respond to Rod Blagojevich's appeal, asking that he serves his entire 14-year sentence. Elizabeth Brackett has the story.

Throughout the 1950s, south suburban families saddled up and rode to the Oak Lawn Round-Up Days. What happened to the festival? Geoffrey Baer rustles up the answer in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Gov. Pat Quinn introduces Paul Vallas to be his "second banana." Paris Schutz has the story. View a graphic of all of the candidates for Illinois governor along with their chosen running mates.

Embattled Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios joins Elizabeth Brackett for a one-on-one interview. View a timeline of his political career.

A new ruling says New York's One World Trade Center will be the nation's tallest building when it is opens next year, swiping the title from Chicago's Willis Tower. Geoffrey Baer has the story.

Dignitaries and top chefs come together to celebrate Charlie Trotter. Paris Schutz has the story.

We take a look at a documentary that follows five war veterans, and their new mission to heal after combat through fly fishing. Not Yet Begun to Fight airs tonight on WTTW World. We speak with the documentary's Executive Producer, Steve Platcow.

James “Big Cat” Williams joins Ann Kreiter to discuss the Bears’ loss to the Lions, coach Marc Trestman’s decision to keep an injured Jay Cutler in the game, and how the Bears can regroup in time to face the Ravens. Watch a web extra conversation with Big Cat.

We share what you had to say about Native American sports mascots and more in tonight’s viewer feedback.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel discuss Dominick’s exit from Chicago, and the roughly 5,600 employees about to get pink slips. Many of the Dominick’s stores anchor entire shopping centers. What impact will the vacancies have? And what effect will the gay marriage bill have on the next Republican primaries? Watch the web extra conversation.

Illinois Senators and Mayor Emanuel are demanding the new U.S. Attorney focus on combating Chicago street crime. But will that really help-- and what about political corruption? Paris Schutz and his panel take a look.

Chicago Tribune theater critic Chris Jones joins us to talk about his new book, Bigger, Brighter, Louder: 150 Years of Chicago Theater as Seen by Chicago Tribune Critics. Read excerpts from the book.

We share what you had to say about forest preserve restoration in Cook County, and the newly announced City Council Budget Office in tonight’s viewer feedback.

Same-sex marriage passed both chambers on Tuesday in Springfield and is now waiting to be signed by Governor Quinn. State Representative Greg Harris, one of the key sponsors of the bill, joins us from the Chicago Sun-Times Springfield bureau with the latest.

Going into the final week of the veto session in Springfield, the big ticket items on the docket were pension reform, same-sex marriage and mandatory minimums. Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney joins us with the latest details.

Just how long have the antique-looking Chicago streetlights been burning? Geoffrey Baer reveals the age of these beauties in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

The Illinois House narrowly approved the same-sex marriage bill that passed in the senate earlier this year. Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney joins us to with the latest.

Influential chef Charlie Trotter, whose culinary skills and eponymous Chicago restaurant became world famous, died today at the age of 54. We take a look back at his celebrated career and the impact he had on the world of fine cuisine with three chefs who trained under Trotter. Watch a web extra video from our archives.

We look at the contribution Chef Charlie Trotter made to the Chicago fine dining scene with journalist Louisa Chu, food contributor for WBEZ and host of weekly podcast, Chewing the Fat, writer David Tamarkin, media director for Chef Rick Bayless and editor of Middlewest magazine, and Chicago magazine executive editor Jennifer Tanaka.