Stories by WTTW News

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.  

Chicago Transit Authority and Ventra officials promise a quick fix to the new Ventra system. How? Paris Schutz has the details.

In what turned out to be a battle of backup quarterbacks, Josh McCown and the Chicago Bears beat the Packers and secured a share of first place in the division. James “Big Cat” Williams joins Ann Kreiter to break down the Bears improbable road win.

The Legislative Veto session is winding down. If something is to get done this year on the big ticket items like pension reform, marriage equality and mandatory minimum prison sentences for gun offenders, it has to happen in the next three days. Which of these will get done and which will get put off yet again? Paris Schutz has the details.

This year, for the first time in this country, more poor people live in suburbs than in American cities. Here in the Chicago region, the number of suburban poor increased 99% over the past decade. Brandis Friedman has the story of how some are confronting these challenges.

Author Rich Cohen joins us to talk about Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football, his new book that captures the heart of the 1985 Monsters of Midway. Read an excerpt.

Bruce Springsteen’s right-hand man Steven Van Zandt recently joined us for a wide-ranging discussion about the Boss, The Sopranos, and why he thinks The Rascals is one of the greatest American bands ever. During his visit to our studio, we also recorded a web extra conversation—which we are broadcasting on Chicago Tonight. Read an Artbeat blog about Van Zandt, view a behind-the-scenes slideshow of his visit to our studio, and watch a web extra conversation.

We share what you had to say about state employee pensions in tonight's viewer feedback.

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

Joel Weisman and his guests take a closer look at the Chicago Cubs trial run of new signage at Wrigley Field, and the rooftop owners strenuous objections. Watch the web extra conversation.

The Chicago Police Department announced crime is down, but its overtime costs will be three times higher than expected. Is the drop sustainable or just a band-aid on a longer term problem?

The Federal Reserve will continue propping up the economy, saying Washington is to blame for impeding economic growth. We hear from economists about the prospects of improvement as the nation heads toward its next fiscal deadlines.

Liz Callaway is a clarion-voiced singer of the Broadway stage. She's also the daughter of the man who started this show, John Callaway. She joins us, accompanied by her son, Nicholas Callaway Foster, to sing and share stories. Watch web extra videos.  

We share your reactions to a new report about fire department response times in this week’s viewer feedback.

While glitches plague the federal health insurance marketplace website, we discuss how things are going for people here in Illinois.

A street near Soldier Field honors a fallen World War II hero. Geoffrey Baer has that soldier's story, and he answers your questions in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

The Chicago Transit Authority's new Ventra payment card is still giving some riders big problems. We have the latest.

Paris Schutz gets a rare one-on-one with former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson – the architect of the controversial bank bailout of 2008. Watch a web extra conversation.

Chicago radio legend John Records Landecker joins us to talk about writing his memoir, Records Truly is My Middle Name. Watch a web extra video from 1978 about Landecker, and the job of a disc jockey.  

A new report says the Chicago Fire Department is failing to meet its goals in responding to fires and medical emergencies, and response time in some wards is worse than in others.  We have the story.

Hillary Clinton returned to her hometown today to give a speech before the Jewish United Fund. Paris Schutz has the details.

We share what you had to say about this week’s stories in tonight’s viewer feedback.

Eddie Arruza and his guests continue their conversation with talk about a highly charged posting by Sen. Dick Durbin on his Facebook page. 

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

In an effort to block a proposed hotel project, a lawsuit has been filed by a landlord who owns apartment buildings near Wrigley Field. Paris Schutz has the latest details.