Stories by WTTW News

A Chicago Tonight exclusive! Geoffrey Baer reveals the winners of a competition to name Chicagoland's greatest public places. It's the culmination of the Metropolitan Planning Council's "What Makes Your Place Great?" initiative.

Carol Marin talks to former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III about his latest project, The Black Book -- a collection of bits of wisdom handed down in the Stevenson family going back to the days of Abraham Lincoln.

We preview Eddie Arruza's Friday Night interview with award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns.

From a meet-the-parents river cruise to a romantic stroll through some off-the-radar galleries at the Art Institute, Time Out Chicago joins us with recommendations for downtown dates.

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A new report says that the economic impact on Chicago, if the city does in fact host the 2016 Olympics, will be positive, although not nearly as profitable as Mayor Daley has predicted. One of the study's authors joins us. "The Likely Economic Impact of a Chicago 2016 Summer Olympics" -- Full Report

University of Illinois President B. Joseph White will resign after months of controversy over the school's admissions practices. Elizabeth Brackett has the latest on his resignation and the next steps for the university.

There are a lot of headlines proclaiming that the recession is "over." But what that means for the local and national economy is the bigger question. Carol Marin and her panel take a look at where things stand with the economy.

The former Michael Reese Hospital campus is set to be demolished to make way for a potential Olympic village. Eddie Arruza finds out why preservationists say Chicago will lose some very significant buildings.

You may know actor and comedian David Alan Grier from comic roles in the movies and on television shows such as "In Living Color." He joins us to talk about stand-up comedy and what he calls "the chocolate-covered truth." David Alan Grier's performances at Zanies "Barack Like Me: The Chocolate-Covered Truth"

Hedy Weiss joins us with a review of Griffin Theatre Company's "The Hostage", plus more of the season's top debuts. "Stoop Stories" -- Goodman Theatre "All My Sons" -- TimeLine Theatre Company

After critical acclaim in New York, the musical "The Marvelous Wonderettes" strolls into Skokie at Northlight Theatre. We interview the creator and have a performance.

Are lighthouse keepers the ultimate "locavores," or local eaters? We talk to a chef and author who says yes. The American Lighthouse Cookbook Chef Ed Cooks Honeydew Avocado Soup

Our own Elizabeth Brackett tells us how she captured the Triathlon World Championship earlier this month in Australia.

Combustible Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley was suspended for the rest of the season after ripping his team and the fans. Is the suspension fair? Elizabeth Brackett and her panel weigh in on the controversy.

A deadly drug is cause for alarm in some Lake County suburbs. We bring you part two of our investigation into why more suburban kids are overdosing on heroin. Buffalo Grove Community Forum on Drug Abuse

A new documentary debuts this week that highlights a highly successful Chicago college preparatory school. One of the film's stars and a student share their keys to educational excellence. The Providence Effect Theaters where you can watch the documentary Providence St. Mel School

We talk to the Tony Award-winning creators of a new musical about love and life billions of years ago. Yeast Nation (The Triumph of Life) Web Exclusive: Yeast Nation

A researcher studying plague bacteria at the University of Chicago has died following exposure to deadly bacteria. Eddie Arruza and his panel discuss possible reasons this might have happened, and precautions taken by scientists studying potentially fatal diseases and bacteria.

A dangerous drug has made a deadly comeback in the suburbs. In the first part of a two-part series, we take a look at why more and more kids are overdosing on heroin, and how it has impacted a quaint Lake County community.

The clock is ticking on the possible sale of Chicago's Sun-Times Media Group. Kris Kridel has the latest news on that possibility, plus the rest of the week's business news.

How are the legions of unemployed Americans handling their health insurance? Diane Eastabrook of the Nightly Business Report's Chicago bureau has the story.

A last-second field goal by Robbie Gould dashes the hopes of the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Former Chicago Bear and Super Bowl veteran Dennis McKinnon is here to break down the big win. Bearly Active Productions

We find out how a new opera company has tapped into the local bar scene. Opera on Tap Chicago

V.I. Warshawski, the detective created by author Sara Paretsky and once played on the big screen by Kathleen Turner, is back in a brand new adventure. We talk to the author about her new novel, Hardball.

We hear what you have to say about some of our recent stories when we read our viewer mail.