Stories by WTTW News

Geoffrey Baer answers your questions about disappearances, reappearances, and sudden appearances across Chicago – like the giant Buddha heads emerging from the earth in Rogers Park and North Lawndale – in this edition of Ask Geoffrey.

We share what you had to say about factory farming and our interview with vegan activist Gene Baur, founder of Farm Sanctuary, in tonight's viewer feedback.

Lawmakers take the governor to court over getting their paychecks back. Paris Schutz has the latest. Read the full lawsuit.

Bill Daley faces the public after announcing that he is dropping out of the race for Illinois governor. Paris Schutz has the details. View a timeline of Daley's political career.

Bill Daley shocks the political arena and drops his candidacy from the race for Illinois governor. What does this mean for Gov. Pat Quinn and for the Republican field? We have analysis.

Will the U.S. government run out of money and shut down within the month? We take a look at how the country got back to fighting against the debt limit clock.

At an appearance at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs on Monday, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham from South Carolina said President Obama should have pushed ahead with military strikes in Syria to send President Bashar al-Assad and other dictators an important signal. Paris Schutz has the details.

Carol Marin and her panel of political reporters and observers discuss the Illinois governor's race, pensions, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's relationship with the black community, and more.

A fired-up Chicago Bears team takes down the Minnesota Vikings. James "Big Cat" Williams gives us his perspective on yet another fourth quarter comeback. Watch a web extra video.

Northwestern University launches its first Massive Online Training Course, or MOOC. Professor Owen Youngman's course -- Understanding Media by Understanding Google -- kicks off on Sept. 16. He joins us to talk about the MOOC, and about this controversial trend in higher education.

We share what you had to say about Russian President Vladimir Putin's open letter to American readers in The New York Times urging "caution" in Syria in tonight’s viewer feedback.

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

In this week’s web extra segment, Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists dive deeper into the Jon Burge police torture case. How did Burge’s actions increase mistrust of the police? And what about the “no-snitch” culture both on the street and on the police force? Charles Thomas says that while there aren’t necessarily more bad cops than bad journalists, the “no-snitch” culture has to change. Watch the web extra video.

The president of Russia writes an open letter to American readers in The New York Times urging "caution" in Syria. Eddie Arruza and his guests have analysis. Read Putin's full Op-Ed.

A new carnivorous mammal is now on display at The Field Museum. Described as a cross between a cat and a teddy bear, the Olinguito was part of the museum's collection for decades. Bill Stanley, the Field's mammals collections manager, brings the specimen to our studios. Watch Emily Graslie's "The Brain Scoop" video about the Olinguito.

You might remember her as the devilish Vera on Downton Abbey. But Irish singer, songwriter, and actress Maria Doyle Kennedy also has a heavenly singing voice. We revisit a conversation and performance with Kennedy.

We share what you had to say about a controversial plan that would cut down 14 acres of trees along the Chicago River near Horner Park in Ald. Deborah Mell's ward to save the river's west bank from erosion in tonight’s viewer feedback.

A new law passes requiring buildings to report their energy uses. Some aldermen warn it will cost condo owners big on their assessments. Paris Schutz has the details on that, and more news from today's Chicago City Council meeting. Read the news release.

President Obama addressed the nation Tuesday night to discuss the situation in Syria. Carol Marin and her guests discuss the president's speech and the possibility of a diplomatic solution. Watch the full speech and read the president's remarks.

President Obama will address the nation about his plans to respond to the situation in Syria on Tuesday night. Our panel has a preview.

Watch Charlie Rose's exclusive interview with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

How is the CTA faring in day one of the rollout of the controversial new Ventra system? Paris Schutz has the details.

Former Chicago Bears pro-bowl lineman James “Big Cat” Williams joins Ann Kreiter to kick off another season of Big Cat and the Bears. Watch a web extra video.

How do tech incubators work, and what’s the real story behind this growing scene in Chicago? Our panel of experts – from both universities and private incubators -- weigh in. View a map of tech incubator locations in Chicago.

We share your thoughts on Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's visit to Chicago in tonight's viewer feedback.

Eddie Arruza and his panel of journalists discuss the week's top headlines.