Stories by WTTW News

Tour companies have something new to show off in Chicago, Barack Obama's neighborhood. Our Geoffrey Baer took some tours that included the future president's first apartment, the site of Michelle and Barack's first kiss and more. Gray Line Chicago My Kind of Tour Tours A do-it-yourself Obama tour from Chicagotribune.com

President Obama has been on the hard sell for his economic stimulus package, But a new book says we can't just throw money at our problems and expect them to go away. We'll talk to the author of "The Empathy Gap," who says a little bit of love and compassion can go a long way to solving some of our most pressing issues.

The deadline for the transition to digital television has now been extended. Christian Farr explains how the delay affects you and answers your questions.

The Dow closes down almost 400 points. This comes despite the Senate passing an $838 billion dollar stimulus plan this afternoon. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780's "Noon Business Hour" has the details on the Dow's drop.

President Obama holds his first White House press conference tonight, where he is expected to make a big push for his stimulus package. We carry the press conference live and will have analysis afterward.

Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review with Joel Weisman at 7 PM Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: Governor Quinn meets with President Obama in Washington as the Illinois budget deficit approaches $9 billion dollars; former Chicago Public Schools chief Paul Vallas running for Cook County Board president; the feds reopen the 1982 Tylenol murder case; a 10-year-old Evanston student hangs himself; and the Bulls on a roll after Jerry Reinsdorf calls the season a "disaster." Guests:

John sits down with Saul Alinsky biographer Sanford Horwitt. Alinsky was known as the father of modern community organizing and was an early influence on Barack Obama, especially when the president was a community organizer here in Chicago in the 1980's.

Illinois is in the midst of the worst financial crisis in its history. Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes joins Eddie Arruza to discuss the unprecedented fiscal challenges the state faces.

A new type of green car may be coming soon to a street near you. Rich Samuels reports on these "Neighborhood Electric Vehicles" and tells us why Mayor Daley would like to see them in Chicago.

Local doctors weigh in on the ethical controversy surrounding the woman who gave birth to octuplets after she already had six other biological children.

We preview John Callaway's "Friday Night" interview with Saul Alinsky biographer Sanford Horwitt. Known as the father of community organizing, Alinsky had a major influence on President Barack Obama.

In tonight's edition of "Ask Geoffrey," Geoffrey Baer reveals a hidden fact about the maker a popular confection in addition to other historic Chicago trivia.

Sun-Times Theater Critic Hedy Weiss calls the Goodman Theatre's Desire Under the Elms "blistering and powerful." She sits down with the star Brian Dennehy and director Robert Falls.

Longtime radio personality Ed Schwartz died today. We go into our vault for a vintage interview with the broadcaster who came to be known as "Chicago Ed."

American baritone Mark Delavan talks about his current roles at Lyric Opera and performs live in our studio.

Elizabeth Brackett has the latest on the damage to Holy Name Cathedral from the three-alarm fire early this morning.

Former schools chief Paul Vallas is running for president of the Cook County Board as a Republican. Carol Marin and her panel take a closer look at his announcement and other political headlines this week.

We kick off a new series on the economy we are calling: "The Bottom Line." For our first installment, we take a look at the stimulus package being hotly debated in the U.S. Senate and examine how it may or may not resuscitate the ailing economy.

As Illinois turns the page on the Rod Blagojevich era, lawmakers are left facing an alarming budget crisis. Elizabeth Brackett sits down with Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias to talk about the challenging financial times ahead.

Former Senator Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination to President Obama's cabinet today. He is just the latest politician tripped up by a failure to pay federal taxes. We talk with a tax attorney and political analyst about money-induced madness in Washington, D.C.

Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are just a few of the growing number of social networking sites popping up all over the Internet. What is their purpose and why have they grown in popularity so quickly? Christian Farr sits down with two technology experts to probe this trend.

Just when you thought that newspapers were dying, a new publication hit the streets last week. It is a newspaper with an unexpected 21st Century twist. We take you inside "The Printed Blog."

Still steaming over what you believe was an undeserved parking ticket? Chicago's self-proclaimed "Parking Ticket Geek" tells us how to beat those fines.

The writings of civil rights pioneer Ida B. Wells are published in a new book, "Ida In Her Own Words: The Timeless Writings of Ida B. Wells from 1893." Michelle Duster, author and great-granddaughter of journalist and social activist Ida B. Wells joins us. Ida B. Wells Products

What does Chicago stand to gain from the economic stimulus package? Elizabeth Brackett spoke with Rep. Mark Kirk, Rep. Jan Schakowsky and State Sen. Matt Murphy about the stimulus plan being debated in Congress.

Carol Marin sits down with the state's newly sworn-in governor, who will discuss his plans and priorities for the weeks and months to come.