Stories by WTTW News

Top lawmaker Tom Cross accuses House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton of playing politics to hold up pension reform. Paris Schutz has the story.

Jonathan Alter is an award-winning author, columnist, reporter and television analyst. Since 2011, he has written a column for Bloomberg View, a worldwide commentary site housed under Bloomberg News. The Chicago native joins us to discuss his new book, The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies. Read an excerpt.

Last Sunday, the Tony Awards had a strong Chicago accent. Steppenwolf Theatre’s Broadway production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? won Tonys for “Best Revival,” “Best Director” and “Best Actor, Tracy Letts.” Before it went to Broadway, the show played at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, and we spoke with some of the principal actors. Watch a web extra video.

Hoping to make some progress on pension reform before next week's special session, Governor Quinn calls a meeting with the General Assembly's legislative leaders. Paris Schutz has the latest from their meeting. 

The Blackhawks are back in the Stanley Cup Finals.  Legendary Hawks broadcaster Pat Foley is here with a preview.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett joins us to discuss her Five Year Plan. 

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists examine the shaping race for the Republican gubernatorial primary in this web extra conversation.

The National Security Agency is collecting phone records of Verizon wireless customers. We dig through the legal implications of doing this, and if this truly is an effective way to counter terrorism.

We asked for your thoughts about the Chicago Sun-Times' decision to lay off their entire photo staff. We read what some of you had to say in tonight's Viewer Feedback.

The Chicago City Council passed the mayor's revised parking meter deal by 39-11. Paris Schutz has the latest.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez has paid more than $500,000 in taxpayer money to a Chicago lobbyist, according to USA Today. Paul Singer, the author of the article, joins us.

Springfield’s inability to reform the state’s pension system has all sorts of consequences: for unions, for the markets, and for taxpayers across the state. We discuss the future with some of the key players.

Chicago Public Schools says 78 percent of students from closed schools have already enrolled in their new schools. But parents say the process is too difficult. Elizabeth Brackett has the details.

Illinois legislators from both sides of the aisle, and both houses, weigh in on what was and was not accomplished during the spring legislative session.

The Illinois House approves a concealed carry compromise deal by 89-28. The bill was approved earlier in the day by the Senate, and now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn's desk. See how House members voted in our interactive graphic.

The Illinois Senate passes a concealed carry bill by 45-12-1. See how Senate members voted in our interactive graphic.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists delve further into the sociology of hockey and its dearth of African American players in this web extra conversation.

House Speaker Michael Madigan's pension reform bill failed in the Illinois Senate 16-42. See how Senate members voted in our interactive graphic.

With only one day left to the legislative session, lawmakers in Springfield are still deciding what to do on critical issues – like pensions, gay marriage, gambling and concealed carry. Carol Marin reports from the capitol on this last-minute frenzy.

In a major round of cuts at the Chicago Sun-Times, the newspaper lays off its entire photography staff. We get reaction from the union that represents them.

Chef Rick Bayless shows us how to make Salsa Huevona served over grilled lobster.

Father Andrew Greeley was a provocative and controversial sociologist, writer and social commentator. He took on the church and wrote steamy novels. Greeley died Wednesday night. We look back at some conversations he had here on WTTW11.

Two Illinois senators urge U.S. Attorney nominee Zach Fardon to make Chicago street gangs top priority. Elizabeth Brackett has the details.

With two days left in the legislative session in Springfield, there's a flurry of work to be done on the budget, pension reform, guns and gay marriage. Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney joins us with the latest news.