Stories by WTTW News

Chris Fischer of OCEARCH is a man who tracks great white sharks, enabling scientists to learn about the mating, migratory patterns of the oceans’ top predator. View a graphic of some of the sharks Fischer tracks.

Chicago homeowners may have a familiar voice among their phone messages tonight: Republican Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner. Paris Schutz has the latest on how pension reform has become political. 

Meet Chicago’s master of the mandolin. Don Stiernberg joins us to talk about playing a traditional instrument in a modern way – and performs live in studio with his trio. View a web extra performance.

We share what you had to say about potential sites for the Barack Obama Presidential Library, The Lucas Cultural Arts Museum and a casino when we read some of our viewer feedback. 

While Chicago tries to fix its pension mess, dozens of suburban mayors warn of their own pension doomsday. Paris Schutz has the latest. 

Chicago is vying for three major institutions: the Barack Obama Presidential Library, The Lucas Cultural Arts Museum and a casino. We’ll take a closer look at possible locations and what urban planning issues Chicago faces with such enormous projects. Vote in a poll.

Over the years, the Archdiocese of Chicago has lost a number of its church buildings to the wrecking ball. But a few that were slated for demolition managed to survive. Among them is the Shrine of Christ the King on Chicago's south side. View a slideshow.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the pervasive patronage at Metra, the CTA plans for an L overpass at Belmont. Watch the web extra video.

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

Illinois taxpayers may be on the hook for $100 million to bring an Obama Presidential Library and Museum to Chicago. Paris Schutz has the story.

Rep. Randy Hultgren joins us to discuss the Affordable Care Act, election year politics, Common Core education standards, and what he’s doing to try and combat rising heroin abuse in Illinois.

We share what you had to say about Mayor Emanuel's recently passed pension reform deal when we read some of our viewer feedback. 

As a WTTW viewer, we know you care about our community and its issues. As part of the Chicago Community Trust initiative, On the Table, 10,000 people across the region will share a meal on May 12 to discuss ideas about the future of the Chicago region. 

The recently passed pension reform deal paves the way for big property tax increases. But will aldermen be able to stomach the vote to raise them, or will they defy Mayor Rahm Emanuel and scuttle his pension reform deal? We talk with Ald. John Arena (45th), Ald. Will Burns (4th), and Ald. George Cardenas (12th). 

We share what you had to say about the possibility of a Star Wars museum in Chicago and concerns that Cook County's employee computer system may have been hacked in tonight's viewer feedback.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the ramifications of the Northwestern football team’s effort to unionize. Watch the web extra video.

In part three of our Vivian Maier series, Jay Shefsky introduces us to several people trying to unravel the mystery of the celebrated photographer.

We share what you had to say about Chicago crime, the city's apparent shortage of ambulances, and Jay Shefsky's profile of an owl-loving nature photographer in tonight's viewer feedback.

In part two of Jay Shefsky's series on photographer Vivian Maier, we meet other owners of her remarkable archive and explore the international explosion of interest in her work.

It's a victory for Mayor Rahm Emanuel as Chicago pension reform passes the Illinois General Assembly and heads to Gov. Pat Quinn for approval. Paris Schutz has the very latest details. View our interactive vote graphics to see how House and Senate members voted on the bill.

This week, a new documentary about photographer Vivian Maier opened in Chicago. She's the Chicago nanny who was also a secret photographer, and who many now believe is one of the great street photographers of the 20th century. Jay Shefsky first introduced us to Vivian Maier in December 2010. We revisit his original story.

Legendary actor Mickey Rooney died at age 93. We look back at a clip featuring Rooney from our archives. Watch the full 1989 program about child stars called When We Were Young: Growing up on the Silver Screen.

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

Eddie Arruza’s panel of journalists reveal a few pages out of their reporter notebooks, and share what piqued their interest on their respective beats this week. Topics include Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, insurance companies, and PED use in Major League Baseball. Watch the web extra video.

The prospects of passing Mayor Rahm Emanuel's pension reform bill in Springfield this week are getting dimmer. We have the latest details from Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney.